For 28-year-old Deepak from Panipat, breathlessness was the first sign that something was seriously wrong with his heart.

Like many young people, he never imagined that a simple difficulty in breathing could lead to the discovery of a potentially life-threatening cardiac condition. His initial medical evaluation revealed that he had a heart problem, but uncertainty about the treatment led him to seek another opinion.

That search eventually brought him to Ujala Cygnus Amritdhara My Hospital, Karnal, where he met Dr. Chander Mohan Mittal, Group Senior Director, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CTVS).

What doctors discovered was far more serious than Deepak had expected.

A Heart Condition Hidden Behind Breathlessness

Detailed evaluation revealed that Deepak had a massively dilated ascending aorta—approximately 8 cm—and severe aortic regurgitation. His heart's ejection fraction was around 40%, indicating that its pumping function was reduced.

Explaining the condition in simple terms, Dr. Chander Mohan Mittal said, “The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. In this young patient, the ascending aorta had become massively enlarged, measuring around 8–9 cm. At the same time, his aortic valve was leaking severely. Both problems needed to be addressed through major cardiac surgery.”

For Deepak and his family, hearing that such a major operation was needed at just 28 was understandably frightening.

But after meeting Dr. Mittal and discussing the diagnosis and treatment, Deepak felt reassured.

A Major Operation to Repair Two Critical Problems

Because both the enlarged aorta and the damaged valve needed to be treated, the surgical team performed a Bentall procedure—a complex cardiac operation in which the diseased aortic valve and the affected section of the ascending aorta are replaced.

The complex Bentall procedure involved:

The surgery required 156 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass and 110 minutes of aortic cross-clamp time. Following the procedure, Deepak was shifted to the ICU in a stable condition.

“After Meeting the Doctor, I Felt Confident”

For Deepak, the most difficult part was not just undergoing surgery, it was making the decision to trust someone with his life.

“I was having difficulty breathing. When I went to a hospital, I was told that I had a problem with my heart. But I was not fully confident after speaking with the doctors there. Someone referred me to Ujala Cygnus Amritdhara My Hospital, Karnal where I met Dr. Chander Mohan Mittal. After talking to him, I felt good and gained confidence that this was the right place for my surgery,” Deepak said.

That confidence helped him and his family take the difficult but necessary decision to proceed with surgery.

Two Months Later, Life Feels Normal Again

The weeks following major heart surgery can be challenging, but Deepak's recovery has been encouraging.

Around two months after the procedure, he says he is doing well and has not experienced the breathing difficulties that brought him to the hospital in the first place.

“I have completed almost two months after the surgery and I am absolutely fine. I have no problem now,” Deepak said.

For a young man who had unexpectedly found himself facing a major cardiac operation, those words carry a significance far beyond a medical outcome.

A Reminder Not to Ignore Breathlessness

Deepak's case highlights an important message: persistent or unexplained breathlessness should not always be dismissed, particularly when it is new or unusual.

In his case, the symptom ultimately led to the diagnosis of a severely enlarged ascending aorta and severe aortic valve leakage—conditions that required timely specialist evaluation and surgical intervention.

Dr. Mittal said, “This was a major and complex cardiac surgery involving both the aortic valve and the ascending aorta. The successful outcome highlights the importance of timely diagnosis, careful surgical planning and comprehensive cardiac care, particularly when complex heart conditions occur in young patients.”