At 97, woman is oldest to undergo angioplasty in Mumbai

Dr Ravi Gupta with Sugra Latif

A 97-year-old woman recently became the oldest person to undergo angioplasty in Mumbai. The doctor who treated her admired her will, which probably helped her tide over the crisis. Earlier this month, Sugra H Latif, a resident of Cumballa Hill, complained of chest pain and was rushed to Wockhardt Hospital at Mumbai Central. Doctors who saw her in the emergency department said initial diagnostic tests indicated she had blockages in the arteries, an acute heart attack, and needed immediate medical intervention.

Dr Ravi Gupta, consultant cardiologist, said one of the main arteries which supplies blood to the heart, was 100 per cent blocked. "She was more confident than us to undergo the angioplasty as she wanted to celebrate her 97th birthday with her family. Her zeal to live life was unmatched. We decided to go ahead with the procedure," he said.

The team of doctors took 10 minutes to remove the blockage. Her doctors said she responded well post-surgery. "It was challenging because this was a primary angioplasty where she had an acute heart attack. Within an hour, 30 per cent of people with acute heart attack die if the blockage is not resolved. In Sugra's case, post-surgery, she recovered well and one of the key reasons for her quick recovery may be her fitness. She had no comorbidities other than her age," said Dr Gupta. Sugra was kept in the intensive care unit (ICU) for a day and was discharged on her birthday - October 14.

Sugra said, "God has helped me so much. Everything is fine. I am glad and grateful that I could celebrate my birthday with my family." Dr Gupta said pain in the chest area should not be ignored, neither should it be ignored especially in some specific body areas like from the lower jaw to the navel, be it the right or left side.