Said Dr RP Singh, a leading Cardiologist and Senior Consultant and Coordinator of Cardiac Centre at SPS Apollo Hospitals, who conducted the procedure by the latest and unique technique of putting a coil of steel wire for blocking internal bleeding vessels, “This is a catheter-based procedure that allows precise closure of abnormal blood flow in a blood vessel.”

Dilbagh Rai Sharma of Amritsar, Paramjit Singh of Jalandhar, Balwant Singh and Manmohan Singh of Ludhiana were all referred to SPS Apollo Hospitals with a condition of repeated profuse vomiting of blood (Hematemesis).

“A catheter with a metallic occluding coil is inserted into an artery — usually in the groin (the femoral artery). It is then advanced to the abnormal blood vessel. Once properly positioned, the metal coil is released, springing into position within the vessel,” said Dr RP Singh.

It remains firmly in place by the expansion of the metal coils. A blood clot will form on the coil, completely obstructing the abnormal blood flow beyond the coil. Eventually a scar will form creating a permanent seal.

Saving life of four patients with this non-penetrating injuries, also called blunt injuries to the kidneys, ureters, or bladder may include a tear, cut, or bruise to the organ. These injuries may lead to internal bleeding due to the organ rupturing (bursting) or blood vessel problems. After doing an angiography, we can block off the bleeding by injecting a liquid, coil, or gel into the vessel. said Dr RP Singh.

Another patient, Manjit Singh, already had a by-pass surgery and two years after surgery, the patient started feeling acute chest pain on exertion. The patient went to various centres in the state where repeat angiographies was performed but no one could diagnose the exact problem. At SPS Apollo, Dr RP Singh could diagnose that one big side branch was draining blood away from the heart of the patient. Again, a steel coil was inserted to block the vessel and the patient was saved.

In the fifth case, a leading industrialist of the city had undergone a PCNL at some centre at Ludhiana. Due to needle trauma, the patient was bleeding profusely from kidney injury. One option was to remove the kidney but the kidney was saved by blocking the blood vessel through steel coils, said Dr Singh.