Cardiac surgeon uses titanium plates for patient who weighed 100 kg and has been a chronic smoker

For the second time in the country and first in the state of Maharashtra, a cardiac surgeon has successfully used a new technique for sternal closure in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery. Dr Rahul Kaiche has used titanium plates instead of traditionally used wires for the procedure. The surgery was carried out at charitable Saibaba hospital in Shirdi on a 64 year old patient. The patient, Bashir Sayyed Noor, a tractor mechanic had consulted Dr Kaiche for a CABG – by-pass surgery after his angiography.

Dr Kaiche informed DNA that, ‘The patient weighed 100 kg and has been a chronic smoker. In such patients who have increased probabilities of coughing and infections, there is a possibility that the wires that are traditionally used in CABG surgeries to close the sternum bone break off due to pressure. This may lead to complications and infections for the patient. Recent research has opened the alternatives to such risks and it is in form of titanium plates – 2 H shaped and one U shaped fitted by titanium screws’. (Read: Life doesn’t end after bypass surgery )

Dr, Kaiche also said that these titanium plates sustain the pressure due to coughing or weight of the patient better than the traditionally used wires to close the mamory sternum bone after an open heart surgery. The technology was first introduced in the USA and has recently been introduced in India. he was also of the opinion that titanium plates have more advantage over steel wires as they give more stability to the chest bone , reduce the chances of sternal infection and are MRI friendly in case the patient has to undergo one, which is limitation in case of steel wires.(Read: Cardiac rehabilitation for a healthy heart)

The DNA also reported Dr Kaiche saying, ‘While the CABG surgery procedure was a regular procedure the uniqueness of this surgery was the use of titanium plates for the first time Maharashtra. I had to prepare myself mentally for this kind of first use. The technique was successful and the patient has accepted the plates and has recovered well’.