Indian Architect Recovers After Suffering a Heart Attack on Board a Flight

S. Sadashivam was a senior architect on the expansion of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, India. 

In May of last year, the 56-year-old was flying to the airport for a site visit, when he suffered a heart attack on board the short flight. Upon landing in Hyderabad, he was stabilized at a clinic at the airport then rushed by ambulance to Apollo Hospital.

Dr. Karunakar Rapolu and his team were ready and waiting for Sadashivam’s arrival. They performed a primary angioplasty, placing stents with the help of an intra-aortic balloon pump. But Sadashivam’s blood pressure was still weak. Dr. Rapolu then decided to increase support by inserting Impella CP® with SmartAssist®, which gave Sadashivam’s heart a chance to rest and recover. Less than 24 hours later, the device was removed and Sadashivam has since made a complete recovery.

He’s back with his family and friends, while continuing to lead major architectural design projects across India.

As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary. There are potential risks these risks need to be discussed with your doctor and recovery takes time. The success of this procedure depends on many factors, including your physical condition and your body’s ability to tolerate the procedure. Use care in the selection of your doctors and hospital, based on their skill and experience.