A CHANGE
OF HEART

After ordeal with kidnappers, 51-year-old Iraqi
gets a new lease of life with Artificial Heart

A 51-year-old Iraqi man fatally injured in a kidnapping and ransom plot by a deadly local gang got a new lease of life thanks to the doctors at BLK Super Speciality Hospital. After having 7 bullets riddled in his body and several rounds of surgeries in his native country and later in India as well, Hani Jawad Mohammed lived to tell his tale. The trials and tribulations he faced at the hands of the terrorists and his road to recovery from the dead was nothing short of miraculous. Hani was kidnapped by a terrorist group for ransom and was shot several times while trying to escape from captivity. Presumed dead, the terrorists left him, however, fortunately, Hani survived against all odds. He underwent treatment for his gunshot wounds and was given a fresh start with a ‘new artificial heart’ in India.

“India is fast becoming the preferred healthcare destination for people suffering from various terminal diseases and critical cases like the one Mohammed had. Affordable treatment, state-of-theart technologies and growing compliance with international quality standards are paving the way for the demand of medical treatment in India.”

DR. AJAY KAUL
CHAIRMAN & HOD
CARDIO THORACIC AND
VASCULAR SURGERY
BLK HEART CENTRE


Gunshots and injuries had crippled Mohammed. And his heart, due to multiple surgeries, had become very weak and needed a proper transplant. Hani was familiar with the healthcare landscape of India and had complete confidence in the expertise and experience of Indian doctors as he had previously undergone surgeries here as well. With the support and advice of his family and friends, he once again flew to India and opted for BLK Super Speciality Hospital this time.

Mohammad was advised for HeartLeft Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) or normally referred to as an artificial heart. He was admitted to the Hospital and diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy which made him so

weak that he was not able to do his day-to-day work on his own. He had complaints of vomiting, severe LV dysfunction – threatening to heart failure. He was left with the option of a heart transplant or an artificial heart.

"Mohammed came to us with a terminal heart condition (Cardiomyopathy) which was a result of gunshot injuries he had suffered during captivity. We found that his heart was very weak and couldn’t eject blood. We tried to treat him medically first but his breathlessness kept increasing and he was completely crippled. He was waiting for a transplant but due to acute shortage of donors it was not feasible at that point of time.”

He was operated by Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) team of BLK Heart Centre led by Dr. Ajay Kaul – Chairman & Head of Department, CTVS and was implanted with an artificial heart. The six hours long surgery involved 12 specialists from different departments including three surgeons.

Dr. Kaul added, "Mohammed was explained that there is an option for him where an artificial heart can be implanted which can improve his chances of survival and keep him alive till a heart is available for replacement. Even if a heart is not available, he can survive for 10 years on this miniature machine."

Post implanting the LVAD, Mohammed's recovery was uneventful and he was able to return back to his normal life.

On July 28, he flew back to Iraq with an artificial heart successfully implanted.