SMCH surgeon conducts rare heart disease operation

Sharif Medical City Hospital (SMCH) Heart Surgery Department Head Dr Mazharur Rehman on Tuesday conducted a successful operation of a complex and rare heart disease, Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM) on 31-year-old Asif Ali. The operation is the second of its kind in Pakistan.
SMCH Project Director Dr Naseeb Awan said Dr Rehman had performed the same surgery on an SMCH patient in 2006. Dr Rehman said in HOCM, one of the interior heart muscles inside becomes thick and enlarged causing obstruction to the blood flow to human body. He said the disease was the main cause of sudden death in young people. He said the extra muscle was removed to release the obstruction and the patient was recovering fast.
He said his team operated on the patient for free. SMCH Director Dr Adnan said the hospital was equipped with modern medical instruments and latest health facilities. Patient’s younger brother Muhammad Amjad said he had contacted the doctors in Lahore and Karachi but most of the doctors refused to perform the surgery due to the risks involved.
He thanked the doctor’s team and SMCH administration for the operation.