Successful bypass surgery on 102-yr-old

Mumbai, Apr 12 (UNI) A 102-year-old man undergoing a successful bypass surgery is a miracle in the history of bypass surgeries, said Dr Ashish Tiwari of Bombay Hospital, where Baba Shivpuriji has undergone the procedure.

Baba was admitted to the hospital on April 6 by his disciples after he complained of chest pain and difficulty during walking.

Dr Sudhanshu Bhattacharya performed a successful five-and-a-half hour bypass surgery on Baba the next day.

There were blockages in the artery. The operation performed on him is called CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting). On April 8, Baba began breathing exercises suggested by Dr Bhattacharya and started showing speedy recovery.

''According to medical journals, there is no record of such old patients undergoing successful bypass surgery. At least we have not heard about it,'' Dr Tiwari told UNI.

Meanwhile, doctors are attributing the speedy recovery to Baba's healthy lifestyle.

At the age of 15, Baba left home to become a 'sanyasi'. He has been on a frugal diet of cow milk and fruits for the past 30-35 years. He wakes up everyday at 0330 hrs. Does 'pooja', meditation and 'pranayama'.

''He has a very balanced lifestyle, good food habits and no history of diabetes,'' said Dr Tiwari.

''We don't get to see a centurion these days,'' he said adding that due to the hectic lifestyle very young people are suffering from heart attack.

We had the youngest patient of nine years who underwent angioplasty, the doctor said.

''Stress is the major culprit,'' he states.

UNI