Hyderabad Doctors Save Vijayawada Man from Rare Life-Threatening Heart Emergency
750 ml fluid removed from around heart in high-risk emergency procedure at CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills
Hyderabad, May 22: Doctors at CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills saved the life of a 48-year-old man from Vijayawada who was brought to the hospital in a near-fatal cardiac condition with severe breathing distress and rapidly failing heart function.
The patient, identified as Panthangi Dhanunjayudu, was rushed to Hyderabad in critical condition after his health deteriorated sharply during transit. According to doctors, he arrived with dangerously low oxygen levels, severe breathlessness, and multiple underlying health complications, including obesity and diabetes-related kidney disease.
After emergency evaluation, specialists diagnosed him with a massive pericardial effusion, a rare and dangerous condition in which fluid accumulates around the heart, compressing the cardiac chambers and severely affecting blood circulation.
Doctors said the condition had progressed to a critical stage and could have rapidly led to cardiac tamponade, organ failure, or sudden cardiac arrest if treatment had been delayed further.
Given the patient’s unstable condition, the multidisciplinary Heart Team at CARE Hospitals immediately initiated emergency stabilization and decided to perform a high-risk pericardial window procedure.
During the emergency surgery, doctors successfully removed nearly 750 ml of fluid surrounding the heart, instantly relieving pressure on the cardiac chambers and helping restore heart function.
“This patient came to us with extremely low chances of survival. His recovery highlights the importance of rapid emergency stabilization, quick clinical decision-making, and expert multidisciplinary care under one roof,” said Dr. V. Surya Prakasa Rao.
Hospital officials said the patient was shifted to intensive care after surgery and remained under close monitoring for 72 hours before being successfully extubated. He later recovered steadily and was discharged in stable condition.
“This case reflects the strength of our emergency response systems and multidisciplinary expertise. Timely intervention and coordinated teamwork played a crucial role in saving the patient,” said Abhinav Joshi.
Cardiology experts note that pericardial effusion can often go undetected in high-risk patients until it reaches a dangerous stage, making early diagnosis and emergency intervention critical for survival.