Expat with brain aneurysm on his feet after 30 days in a coma
Driver undergoes multiple surgeries to stop bleeding in brain and fight an infection
An Indian expat who lapsed into a coma after a severe headache was revived by doctors at a Dubai-based hospital after nearly 30 days.
Mujeeb, a 41-year-old Indian driver, had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and would have died if not for multiple brain surgery done by a team of surgeons at Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai.
Dr Mohammad Khamis, critical care specialist and primary care physician, said: “The patient was fit and healthy with no previous symptoms. When he was brought to the emergency room, a CT scan of his brain revealed a severe haemorrhagic stroke caused by brain aneurysm.”
Mujeeb was rushed to the ICU and put on a ventilator. “He was operated for an emergency insertion of a drain in his brain to flush out excess fluid and blood and to monitor pressure in his brain. On the same day, he underwent another procedure to repair the aneurysm that caused the bleeding,” explained Dr Hussain Al Rahma, head of critical care and emergency medicine at the hospital.
Second brain surgery
Unfortunately, despite the two procedures, the brain pressure continued to remain high and so four days after his admission, Mujeeb underwent a
I am very grateful to all the doctors... I know I was given a second chance at life. This is a miracle for me and I am gradually getting back my strength.”
Mujeeb | 41-year-old patient
second surgery to place a second drain on the other side of the brain. All this while, he remained in a coma.
“Even though he was given aggressive IV antibiotic therapy, his case needed local injection of antibiotics to fight the brain infection he had developed. Because of long-term ventilation, he also needed a tracheostomy,” Dr Khamis added.
After 55 days of intensive care, Mujeeb’s condition stabilised and the swelling in his brain began to subside.
As doctors detected some normal brain activity, they tried to revive Mujeeb. As he started to slowly regain consciousness, doctors began weaning him off the ventilator and eventually he was able to breathe independently.
55-day ordeal ends
He was moved to a regular room where his rehabilitation process continued under the supervision of a neurologist.
He remained in coma for 30 of the 55 days he was in ICU.
Mujeeb, who has regained full control of his faculties and brain functions, said: “I am very grateful to all the doctors who supervised my care during this period. I know I was given a second chance at life and for that I feel very lucky. This is a miracle for me and I am gradually getting back my strength.”