Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 7: For a doctor every patient is special, but sometimes a unique opportunity presents itself in the form of a challenging case.
A similar thing happened when Dr Ravninder Singh Kuka, Interventional Cardiologist at SPS Hospital Ludhiana (Punjab) was informed about an elderly female in complete heart block. He was surprised to learn that the patient Kartar Kaur, born in 1901, was probably the oldest living person in the world at 118 years of age. Before her this record was recorded at the name of Kane Tanaka of Japan. His age is 116 years and 63 days. But Kartar kaur break this record by the age of 118 years. Now she is the oldest living person in the world.
She was referred by Dr Kamal Baghi on night of 24.02.2019 from Ferozepur. When she was brought to the emergency at SPS hospital, her heart was beating at the rate of 20-22 beats per minute. She was unconscious and blood pressure was very low. Dr Ravninder immediately intervened and a temporary pacing device was placed, saving the patient’s life. The solution in such patients is usually the placement of a permanent pacemaker, but considering the age and general condition of the patient, it was going to be an uphill task.
However, Dr Ravninder rose up to the challenge and with the help of well trained cardiac cath lab staff and the support of the cardiac anesthesia team at SPS hospital Ludhiana, this record breaking feat was performed. A permanent pacemaker was placed in Kartar Kaur’s heart on 28.2.2019 at SPS Hospital. Patient is doing well post operatively and is stable now.
On investigating further it came to the knowledge that she has two alive children and elder daughter is a retired Government employee and in her 88’s. Her 2 years younger brother Harnam Singh was in British Army and got retired in 1945. That time he was 42 years old. As per this record the age of Harnam Singh probed 116 years today and Kartar Kaur probed 118 years old.
The oldest person documented to be implanted with a permanent pace maker till now was 107 years old and in India, this record has been 105 years. With this patient, Dr Ravninder Singh Kuka has performed a feat fit for the Guinness Book of World Records.
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