Rakhi, 27, a mother of two, was hospitalised in Delhi after suffering a stroke. In a rare and unusual discovery, doctors found a 7 cm tumour in her heart, a small dislodged fragment of which had travelled to her brain, causing the stroke. Doctors at Max Hospital in Patparganj successfully conducted an operation to remove the cardiac tumour, and Rakhi is now recovering, the hospital said in a statement.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Elaborating on the case details, Dr Vaibhav Mishra, Director and Head, CTVS Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac Sciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, said, “The patient arrived with symptoms of a stroke, which is particularly uncommon in young individuals, especially women. She was immediately assessed by a neurologist who initiated prompt treatment. Recognizing the rarity of a stroke at such a young age, a comprehensive diagnostic workup was undertaken, including extensive imaging of her head and the arteries in her neck, to identify the precise cause of her paralysis.”
During this thorough evaluation, a tumour was detected inside one of the heart’s chambers. It was determined that a fragment of this tumour had broken off and travelled to her brain, obstructing blood flow and resulting in a stroke. This phenomenon, known as embolization, occurs when a solid substance detaches from its parent tumour and lodges in another organ, most commonly the brain.
The Surgery
Dr Mishra added that a minimally invasive ‘scarless’ procedure was performed to remove the tumour from her heart. “Conventional open-heart surgery means cutting the breast bone and making a big incision in the centre of the chest, but because of her young age, we decided to do a minimally invasive surgery where a 5 cm cut was made in the right chest without cutting the ribs. The cut was below the breast and is barely visible now, leading to a better cosmetic appearance and no scar,” he explained.
Dr Vivek Kumar, Senior Director, Neuro Sciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, who first treated the patient for the stroke, added that due to the prompt and accurate diagnosis, the patient’s weakness improved significantly and she made a full recovery. “The total excision of the tumour cures the patient and prevents any further brain stroke,” he said.
The Cause
When asked about the root cause of the cardiac tumour, Dr Vaibhav Mishra told the OnlyMyHealth team, “This is all genetic and developmental. This is found in females more and is usually due to genetic reasons.”
Caution and Prevention
Both Dr Mishra and Dr Kumar emphasised the importance of addressing the symptoms of a stroke. Dr Vivek Kumar explained the five most common symptoms of a stroke using the acronym BE FAST:
B is for Sudden Loss of Balance.
E is for Sudden Loss of Vision in one or both eyes.
F is for Facial Deviation, Face, Arm, or Leg Weakness.
A is for Arm and Leg Weakness.
S is for Speech Disturbance.
T stands for Time, emphasising that time should not be lost. As soon as these symptoms appear, the patient should be taken to the hospital immediately.
Also read: BE FAST: The Key To Identifying Stroke
Dr Mishra also talked about further care or lifestyle changes, stating that Rakhi is completely fine. She was discharged within four days of the operation and is free to do anything and everything. Rakhi reported that she does all her chores and her life is as normal as it was before this entire episode, with no restrictions.
Patient’s POV
The OnlyMyHealth team also interacted with Rakhi, who shared her experience. When asked about the biggest challenge she faced, she said, “I have two kids, a six-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son. The only thought in my mind was that I want to get better and go home to my kids.” Giving advice to readers, Rakhi emphasised the importance of rushing to the doctor as soon as any symptoms appear and trusting the doctor’s expertise during treatment.