Ojas Hospital performs region’s 1st physician-modified fenestrated EVAR for complex aortic aneurysm

Panchkula, April 7, 2025: Ojas Hospital, Panchkula a unit of Alchemist Hospitals successfully performed region’s first physician-modified fenestrated EVAR for complex aortic aneurysm in a 73-year-old female patient.

Talking to media here on Monday, Dr. Ankur Aggarwal senior consultant vascular surgery at Alchemist and Ojas Hospital Panchkula said that the patient was suffering from a life-threatening aortic aneurysm.

This complex, minimally invasive procedure marks a major advancement in vascular care and is among only five such cases ever performed in the Tricity region, he informed.

Dr. Ankur further informed that the patient had a 6 cm wide aortic aneurysm, a dangerous condition involving the ballooning of the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

Left untreated, such aneurysms carry a risk of rupture, with a mortality rate of 80–90%. Open surgery — previously the only treatment option — is extremely risky for elderly patients, often requiring 7–8 hours of surgery and involving bypasses to both kidneys and intestinal arteries.

To avoid these complications, the vascular team led by Dr. Ankur opted for a cutting-edge technique known as physician-modified fenestrated EVAR.

“This advanced procedure allows us to custom-modify the stent on the operating table by creating tiny fenestrations (holes) to preserve blood flow to vital arteries branching from the diseased aorta,” explained Dr. Aggarwal.

“Once the stent is placed inside the body, four additional stents are inserted through these fenestrations to maintain continuous blood supply to the kidneys and intestines.”

The entire surgery was completed via a small 3 cm incision in the right groin — a stark contrast to the large incisions required in traditional surgery — and the patient was discharged in stable condition just two days later.

This marks a new era in aortic aneurysm management, providing safer and more effective options for high-risk patients through minimally invasive techniques.

The successful outcome not only highlights the expertise available at Ojas Hospital, Panchkula but also places the region on the map for advanced vascular interventions.

Ojas Hospital is a premier multispecialty facility and a proud unit of Alchemist Hospitals, committed to bringing cutting-edge healthcare to the region. With state-of-the-art infrastructure and a team of expert specialists, the hospital delivers high-quality, patient-centric care across all major specialties.