Ugandan footballer gets LVAD procedure at Yashoda Hospitals

Hyderabad: A 31-year-old football player from Uganda, Okwara Joseph, who was suffering from coronary artery disease with severe left ventricular dysfunction, was treated by the cardiology team of Yashoda Hospitals, Secunderabad, by implanting latest Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) known as JARVIK 2000. Last April, while playing a football match in Uganda, Okwara Joseph experienced […]

Hyderabad: A 31-year-old football player from Uganda, Okwara Joseph, who was suffering from coronary artery disease with severe left ventricular dysfunction, was treated by the cardiology team of Yashoda Hospitals, Secunderabad, by implanting latest Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) known as JARVIK 2000.

Last April, while playing a football match in Uganda, Okwara Joseph experienced severe chest pain and underwent a series of tests and was diagnosed with ischemic cardiomyopathy, a medical condition wherein the heart loses its ability to pump blood because its left ventricle, which is the main pumping chamber, is weak and dilated.

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In his search for a proper treatment for his medical condition, the Ugandan footballer flew to India and got admitted to Yashoda Hospitals, Secunderabad on December 13 with symptoms of heart failure.

After evaluation, senior interventional cardiologist and specialist in TAVR, Dr. V. Rajasekhar and Heart and Lung mechanical assist device team planned for a LVAD and offered to implant JARVIK 2000 series. He was successfully operated on December 24, 2021 and was discharged on January 28, 2022.

The Director of Yashoda Hospitals, Dr. Pavan Gorukanti said that Yashoda hospital, Secunderabad has one of the best cardiac, heart and lung transplantation team in the world with matching infrastructure.