KARACHI: Pakistan’s National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) has successfully performed the country’s first “Total Arch Replacement with the Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique” on a 16-year-old patient from Khairpur, the cardiac facility said in a statement on Tuesday.
The procedure, which lasted more than 16 hours, is considered among the most advanced and technically demanding in cardiovascular surgery. Such operations are typically performed at only a few specialized cardiac centers globally.
The surgery was carried out free of cost, said, NICVD, which had invited international cardiovascular expert Prof. Ugursay Kiziltepe from Türkiye to collaborate with its surgical team. The operation was performed 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.
The patient is now recovering and “showing encouraging post-operative progress,” according to the statement.
“This surgery, the first-ever successful ‘Total Arch Replacement with the Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique’ performed in Pakistan, required utmost precision, coordination, and endurance,” Prof. Kiziltepe was quoted as saying in the statement.
Cardiac surgeon Dr. Tariq called the operation “a tremendous milestone,” noting that the procedure “is among the most technically demanding in cardiovascular surgery.”
Dr. Awan added that the achievement “is a rare feat, even in advanced centers worldwide,” while Dr. Muhammad Fahad said the level of teamwork reflected “Pakistan’s growing expertise in complex cardiac care.” Prof. Amin Khuwaja noted the “tremendous anesthetic challenge” of maintaining patient stability during the 16-hour surgery.
In his concluding remarks, NICVD Executive Director Prof. Tahir Saghir said the accomplishment highlights the role of public support in expanding Pakistan’s cardiac treatment capacity.
“This remarkable success is a proud moment for Pakistan’s health care sector,” he said. “Such achievements reaffirm NICVD’s commitment to providing world-class, free-of-cost cardiac treatment to every patient across the country.”
NICVD, headquartered in Karachi, operates one of the world’s largest publicly funded cardiac care networks, with satellite centers operating across Sindh province. The institute provides emergency cardiac treatment, including primary angioplasty and pediatric heart surgery, free of charge.
