In a groundbreaking achievement for Pakistan’s healthcare system, doctors at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in Karachi have successfully performed the country’s first-ever “Total Arch Replacement using the Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique” — one of the most advanced and complex heart surgeries in the world.
The procedure was conducted on a 16-year-old patient from Khairpur, marking a historic moment in Pakistan’s medical field. According to the NICVD, the surgery lasted more than 16 hours, which requires
- Extraordinary skill
- Coordination
- Endurance from the entire medical team
A Remarkable Feat in Cardiac Surgery: Frozen Elephant Trunk Procedure
The Frozen Elephant Trunk (FET) procedure is a highly sophisticated operation that is utilized to treat life-threatening conditions of the aortic arch, which is the main blood vessel involved in carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It involves replacing the damaged section of the aorta with a hybrid graft that combines both open surgical and endovascular repair techniques.
Read more: Pakistan’s first robotic bariatric surgery performed at CDA Hospital
This procedure is typically performed in only a handful of specialized cardiac centers around the world. For Pakistan to successfully execute it marks a major advancement in the country’s cardiac surgery capabilities.
The complex operation was performed free of cost, staying true to NICVD’s mission of providing cutting-edge healthcare to all Pakistanis regardless of income. The surgery was led by Dr. Khuzaima Tariq, along with Dr. Asad Bilal Awan, Dr. Muhammad Fahad from the Karachi Trauma Center, and Consultant Anesthesiologist Dr. Amin M. Khuwaja, under the guidance of international cardiovascular expert Prof. Ugursay Kiziltepe from Türkiye.
Collaboration and Excellence
Prof. Kiziltepe praised the surgical team for their precision and dedication, calling the achievement “a tremendous milestone in Pakistan’s medical history.” He emphasized that even in advanced medical centers worldwide, such procedures are rare due to their complexity and risk.
Dr. Tariq and his team echoed similar sentiments, noting that the success of this surgery demonstrated Pakistan’s growing ability to handle high-end cardiac care domestically. Dr. Awan called it “a rare feat even for the most advanced hospitals,” while Dr. Fahad highlighted how the operation reflected “Pakistan’s evolving expertise in complex heart procedures.”
Anesthesiologist Dr. Khuwaja described the operation as “a tremendous anesthetic challenge,” given the difficulty of maintaining patient stability over such a long procedure.
Read more: Maryam Nawaz announces free treatment and surgery for children with heart disease
A Proud Moment for Pakistan’s Healthcare
NICVD’s Executive Director, Prof. Tahir Saghir, commended the team, saying, “This remarkable success is considered to be proud moment for Pakistan’s healthcare sector. It indicates the immense potential of our doctors and reinforces NICVD’s commitment to world-class, free cardiac care.”
NICVD is already recognized as one of the largest publicly funded cardiac networks in the world, operating multiple satellite centers across Sindh. It provides free emergency cardiac treatment, including angioplasty and pediatric heart surgeries, serving thousands of patients daily.
This historic surgery not only saves a young life but also symbolizes a leap forward for Pakistan’s medical innovation — proving that world-class healthcare can be achieved within the country’s public sector.