Pakistan Performs First-Ever Advanced Heart Surgery Free of Cost, Marking Medical Milestone

In a historic medical achievement, surgeons at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) successfully performed Pakistan’s first-ever total arch replacement using the frozen elephant trunk (Tarfet) technique on a 16-year-old boy from Khairpur. The 16-hour-long surgery, recognized as one of the most technically complex procedures in cardiovascular medicine, marks a major milestone in Pakistan’s medical history.

The procedure was led and supervised by Prof. Ugursay Kiziltepe, an internationally acclaimed cardiovascular surgeon from Türkiye, in collaboration with NICVD’s expert surgical team. Conducted entirely free of charge under the Sindh government’s health initiative, the operation demonstrates the commitment to providing advanced cardiac care to all citizens regardless of financial constraints. Prof. Kiziltepe described the surgery as requiring “utmost precision, coordination, and endurance” and hailed it as a landmark in Pakistan’s medical capabilities.

The operation involved a team of highly skilled professionals, including Dr. Khuzaima Tariq and Prof. Asad Bilal Awan from NICVD, Dr. Muhammad Fahad from the Trauma Centre Karachi, and Consultant Anaesthesiologist Prof. Amin M. Khuwaja of NICVD. Their combined expertise and teamwork were pivotal to the success of this rare and high-risk procedure.

Dr. Tariq emphasized the significance of the surgery for Pakistan’s medical community, calling it “a tremendous milestone for both NICVD and our country.” He explained that the procedure replaces the aortic arch without requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, combining thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with surgical precision—a technique achievable only at advanced cardiac centres globally. Prof. Awan noted that such a surgery is considered a rare accomplishment even at leading international institutions and credited the collaboration between Turkish and Pakistani specialists for its success.

Dr. Fahad highlighted the operation as a reflection of “the true spirit of medical collaboration and endurance,” while Prof. Khuwaja discussed the anaesthetic challenges of maintaining patient stability over a 16-hour procedure, noting that the patient’s recovery has been encouraging. The young patient, who suffered from a life-threatening aortic condition, is now showing strong post-operative signs and recovering well.

The surgery, valued at approximately Rs6 million in private healthcare, was performed completely free under the Sindh government’s support for NICVD’s free cardiac care program. NICVD Executive Director Prof. Tahir Saghir praised the achievement as a proud moment for Pakistan’s healthcare system, emphasizing that it reflects the institute’s world-class standards and the provincial government’s vision of accessible, quality cardiac care. He acknowledged the support of the Chief Minister and Health Minister in strengthening public health infrastructure and commended the NICVD team and Prof. Kiziltepe for their professionalism, dedication, and teamwork.

This landmark surgery reinforces NICVD’s commitment to providing free, high-quality cardiac treatment nationwide, ensuring that financial limitations do not prevent patients from accessing life-saving medical care.