Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 24: KMC Hospital Mangaluru successfully performed a rare and complex heart surgery on a 50-year-old male patient suffering from chronic calcific constrictive pericarditis, a condition that severely restricts heart function. The surgery, carried out in September 2025, involved a highly skilled multidisciplinary team and was one of the very few such procedures performed in the region. The patient, who had been experiencing severe fatigue, breathlessness, swelling of the lower limbs and abdomen for more than two years, was successfully treated and has now been discharged in a stable condition.
The patient first consulted Dr Rajesh Bhat, consultant – interventional cardiologist, with severe breathlessness on minimal activity, unusual weight gain, and fatigue. At presentation, he weighed nearly 140 kilograms due to fluid accumulation from cardiac failure. Investigations and a cardiac MRI revealed a severely calcified pericardium restricting heart movement. After stabilization with diuretics, he was referred for surgery. A multidisciplinary team led by Dr Harish Raghavan, Dr Madhav Kamath, Dr Iresh Shetty consultant – cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, along with, anesthetists Dr Rammoorthy Rao and Dr Panchakshari Patil performed a complex pericardiectomy. The procedure involved removing the thickened and heavily calcified pericardial sac that was tightly adherent to the heart, restoring its ability to pump effectively.
Dr Harish Raghavan said, “Constrictive pericarditis is a potentially dangerous condition which prevents the heart from filling and pumping effectively. Early diagnosis and timely surgery are key to ensuring a good outcome. This case was especially complex due to the extent of calcification, but with a dedicated team effort, we were able to achieve a successful result and see the patient recover well.”
Dr Rajesh Bhat, mentioned, “Such cases are extremely rare — I have seen only a few in my entire career. With strong clinical suspicion and precise imaging, we reached the correct diagnosis and carefully planned treatment. Following surgical excision, the patient improved significantly and is now being discharged. It is deeply rewarding to see a critically ill patient recover and return home healthy. The pre-operative stabilization was challenging as he needed high doses of medicines & careful balancing between heart & kidney functioning. Meticulous planning, execution & monitoring was cornerstone for the successful treatment.”
Dr Sushanth Kumar, consultant nephrologist added, “Kidney failure in this patient was because of the cardiac issue and correcting the cause was very crucial, he was only third spacing fluid with low cardiac output. Post-operative his kidney function too improved totally. The coordinated efforts of all departments ensured the best possible outcome”
The patient was closely monitored in the ICU for six days before being shifted to the ward and was discharged 12 days after the surgery in good health.
Commenting on the successful outcome, Saghir Siddiqui, regional chief operating officer said, “At KMC Hospital, we are proud of the teamwork and medical excellence demonstrated in this case. Such rare and complex procedures highlight our commitment to delivering world-class care with compassion, ensuring that even patients with life-threatening conditions have access to advanced treatment and the hope of recovery.”
This rare and successful surgery underscores the strength of KMC Hospital’s multidisciplinary expertise and its commitment to tackling some of the most challenging medical conditions. The case reflects not only advanced surgical skill but also the hospital’s holistic approach to patient care, ensuring recovery and renewed quality of life.