Body Temperature Lowered to 18°C: Kottayam Medical College Performs Rare Life-Saving Heart-Lung Surgeries.

The Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CVTS), Kottayam Medical College, has successfully performed two highly complex heart-lung surgeries using a rare technique called Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest, in which the patient’s body temperature is reduced to 18°C.
The surgeries were led by Dr. Jayakumar T.K., Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, along with his dedicated team. Both patients have recovered well.
A procedure that would typically cost around ₹40 lakhs in the private sector was performed at Kottayam Medical College for approximately ₹2 lakhs, making advanced cardiac care accessible to patients.
First case was Mr. Ani John (50 years), underwent emergency surgery for a Type A Aortic Dissection, a life-threatening tear in the main artery carrying blood from the heart. The damaged aorta and associated heart valves were successfully replaced.
The second patient, Mr. K.C. Raju, suffered from an Aortic Arch Aneurysm, where the main part of the aorta had enlarged and become attached to an infected portion of the left lung. The surgical team successfully replaced the diseased aortic arch and the affected lung tissue.
During these surgeries, the patients’ body temperatures were lowered to 18°C, allowing the heart and circulation to be temporarily stopped. This provided surgeons with a limited time window to safely perform the complex repairs before restoring normal circulation.
The successful surgeries highlight the advanced expertise and capabilities of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Department at Kottayam Medical College. The surgical team included Dr. C.H. Nidhish, Dr. Aravind P. Raman, Dr. Smartin Abraham, Dr. Manoop B., Dr. R. Shiva, Dr. Kishore, Dr. Jeevan, Dr. Chaithanya Krishna, Dr. P. John, and Dr. R. Sajith. Cardiac anaesthesia support was provided by Dr. Manjusha N. Pillai and Dr. Sanjeev Thampy, with valuable assistance from the ICU and Operation Theatre teams led by Ms. Preethy A R, Ms.Shybimol Kurian, .Ms. Sheeba A M, Ms. Thressiamma Dominic.