Samantha Prabhu Joins Secret Alchemist as Co-Founder

New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS) As Tamil megastar Rajinikanth was successfully treated for swelling in his aorta, or the main blood vessel leaving his heart, health experts on Wednesday said eight out of 10 individuals with a ruptured aortic aneurysm do not reach the hospital alive.

An aortic aneurysm is a dangerous condition where the aorta, the body’s largest artery, becomes enlarged by more than 1.5 times its normal size.

According to Dr Sanjeeva Kumar Gupta, Consultant, Department of Cardiology at C.K. Birla Hospital in the national capital, while typically symptomless, if it dissects or ruptures, it can cause severe chest, abdominal, or back pain and lead to life-threatening bleeding.

Risk factors include smoking, heavy alcohol use, hypertension, and advanced age.

Aortic aneurysms are treated through surgery, either with open surgery or minimally invasive endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Dr Krishna Chaitanya, lead consultant, vascular and endovascular surgery, Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru, said that it is rather unfortunate that most aneurysms do not produce symptoms until it presents a rupture.

“Only a handful of fortunate individuals have it detected incidentally during a CT scan or ultrasound examinations for unrelated conditions. Some studies estimate about 12 per cent of the adults over 65 years of age suffer from aortic aneurysm while a lesser percentage is seen in younger individuals,” Dr Chaitanya told IANS.

Several cases of sudden deaths are erroneously branded as massive heart attacks or natural ageing, while the actual cause is never discovered.

“It is said that eight out of 10 individuals with a ruptured aortic aneurysm do not reach the hospital alive. At present, active aortic aneurysm screening is the only way to detect aortic aneurysm in the population ‘at risk’,” Dr Chaitanya noted.

According to the private hospital in Chennai where Rajinikanth was treated, “he had a swelling in the main blood vessel leaving his heart (Aorta), which was treated by a nonsurgical transcatheter method”.

According to doctors, the EVAR procedure involves placing a stent graft via a small incision to reinforce the weakened part of the aorta and prevent rupture.

For smaller aneurysms or patients unfit for surgery, medical therapy focuses on managing risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol, along with regular ultrasound monitoring. As undetected and untreated aneurysms can have devastating consequences, many developed countries have incorporated aortic aneurysm screening into their national health system. For instance, the NHS in the UK sends a screening invitation to every man after his 64th birthday.

THIS Malyalam Superstar to Play Rishab’s Father in Kantara 2

Rishab Shetty’s much-anticipated movie, Kantara: Chapter 1, has sparked a lot of excitement, especially with rumors of legendary actor Mohanlal playing a pivotal role. The film is reportedly a prequel to the original Kantara and might feature Mohanlal as the father of Rishab Shetty’s character. Although this news has not yet been officially confirmed by the filmmakers, it has generated significant buzz among fans.

Earlier this year, Rishab Shetty and his wife Pragathi shared pictures with Mohanlal, which added to the speculation that the superstar might be part of this project. If Mohanlal joins the cast, it would undoubtedly create a huge sensation and elevate the film’s appeal even further.

Chapter 1 is set to explore the lore of the Panchurli Deiva, taking place during the Kadamba era. Ajaneesh Loknath, who composed the haunting music for the first installment, returns as the music director for this one as well.

The film is expected to be released either at the end of 2024 or in early 2025. Following its theatrical release, it will be available on Amazon Prime Video for streaming. The first movie, Kantara, was widely praised for its captivating storytelling, stunning visuals, and exploration of mythical folklore, setting a high bar for the prequel.

Meanwhile, Mohanlal is also working on his directorial debut with the film Barroz and is busy with other projects, including L2: Empuraan and the tentatively titled L360.