News DeskDubai, UAE – In a major medical breakthrough, cardiac surgeons at Aster Hospital, Al Qusais have successfully performed a highly complex beating-heart surgery on a 43-year-old man suffering from severe and diffuse coronary artery disease, restoring blood flow to his heart and saving his life.
The patient, Jijil Chira, an Indian national living in Dubai and working as a logistics manager, was experiencing constant chest pain and breathlessness even during mild activity. Diagnostic tests, including a treadmill test and coronary angiography, revealed that all three major coronary arteries were diffusely diseased, with the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery and the Right Coronary Artery (RCA) completely blocked (100%) along their entire length. His long-standing, uncontrolled diabetes further increased the risk and complexity of treatment.
Given the severity of the condition, the surgical team opted for a complete coronary endarterectomy combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) — a rare and technically demanding procedure. The surgery was performed entirely on a beating heart, without the use of a heart-lung machine.
The procedure was led by Dr Sandeep Shrivastava and Dr Shipra Shrivastava, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeons at Aster Hospital, Al Qusais. During the operation, surgeons carefully opened the LAD and RCA and removed hard, dense plaque deposits along the entire length of both arteries. In certain segments, a second endarterectomy was required, followed by patch repair to ensure smooth and uninterrupted blood flow before completing the bypass grafts.
“This was an extremely complex case because there was no healthy segment of the arteries suitable for a conventional bypass,” said Dr Sandeep Shrivastava. “Both the LAD and RCA were fully blocked from end to end. By meticulously removing the plaque and reconstructing the arteries, we were able to restore full blood flow and offer the patient a chance at long-term recovery, even in a case that might be considered untreatable elsewhere.”
Dr Shipra Shrivastava added that the hospital has developed special expertise in managing advanced and aggressive coronary artery disease. “Our focus is on complete revascularisation — restoring blood flow across the entire artery — so that patients can regain good heart function and quality of life, even in the most challenging cases,” she said.
Globally, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 19.8 million people die each year from heart-related illnesses, with coronary artery disease and stroke accounting for about 85 per cent of these deaths. Advanced surgical interventions such as coronary endarterectomy play a crucial role in treating patients with severe disease.
While only 20–30 per cent of CABG procedures worldwide are performed off-pump, Aster Hospital, Al Qusais carries out all its bypass surgeries on a beating heart. This approach reduces complications, shortens recovery time and is particularly beneficial for high-risk patients when performed by experienced teams.
The hospital has completed more than 50 coronary endarterectomy procedures, including complex multi-vessel cases. Over the past year, it performed more than 184 CABG surgeries, all on beating hearts, with nearly 23 per cent of patients requiring endarterectomy due to advanced coronary disease. Most patients, including Mr Chira, were discharged by the fourth postoperative day and are now living symptom-free.
Expressing his gratitude, Chira said: “I was refused treatment elsewhere because my condition was too complex. The team at Aster Hospital gave me hope and a second chance at life. I feel truly blessed and deeply thankful for their care and expertise.”
Aster Hospital, Al Qusais is also featured in Newsweek’s World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026 list among 350 hospitals globally and is ranked No. 14 in the UAE in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals rankings, underscoring its leadership in advanced patient care.
The successful surgery further cements the hospital’s reputation as a leading centre for complex cardiac care in the UAE, setting new benchmarks in the treatment of severe coronary artery disease through innovation, expertise and a patient-first approach.
