Aortic Dissection, a Medical Emergency with a 1% Increase in Mortality Risk Every Hour, Treated with Emergency Surgery Based on the Expertise of Asan Medical Center’s Dedicated Aortic Team

Asan Medical Center Holds 100th Birthday Celebration for Male Patient in Hospital Room, Wishing Him a Speedy Recovery

▲ Professor Min Jung Ku of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center, Mr. Seung Man Lee, and his family member (from left) pose for a commemorative photo while celebrating Mr. Lee’s 100th birthday in his hospital room after surgery.

“Mr. Seung Man Lee, Happy 100th Birthday!”

A special birthday celebration was held at Asan Medical Center on August 5. Medical staff joined a 99 year old patient who had been rushed to the emergency room with aortic dissection, a medical emergency, to celebrate his 100th birthday in his hospital room after he successfully underwent surgery.

Asan Medical Center recently announced that it had successfully treated Mr. Seung Man Lee, a 99 year old patient, for aortic dissection. He is the oldest patient in Korea to undergo surgery for aortic dissection. He was discharged in good health just one and a half months after surgery.

Born in Gangwon Province on August 5, 1926, Mr. Seung Man Lee worked as an elementary school teacher before retiring and moving to Seoul, where he lived with his son and daughter in law. Despite his advanced age, he was in relatively good health, able to carry out everyday activities indoors and eat all three meals regularly.

Then, late at night on Sunday, June 28, Mr. Lee was rushed to the emergency room at Asan Medical Center after experiencing a sudden decrease in consciousness and vomiting. A chest CT scan revealed aortic dissection, a condition in which the wall of the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body, tears.

Aortic dissection is an extremely life threatening condition, with the risk of death reportedly increasing by 1% for every hour that passes after symptoms begin. In Mr. Lee’s case, the dissection occurred in the ascending aorta, the section closest to the heart, making emergency surgery an urgent necessity.

At the time, Mr. Lee was 99 years old, and undergoing surgery itself posed a very high risk. Even with surgery, his chances of survival were estimated to be only 30 to 40%. However, when the family was told that he might survive only about a week without surgery, they decided to proceed, placing their trust in the medical team at Asan Medical Center.

Based on their extensive clinical experience and expertise, the medical team at Asan Medical Center proceeded with emergency surgery to save Mr. Lee’s life. Shortly after 2 a.m. on Monday, June 29, Professor Min Jung Ku and her team in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center opened the patient’s chest and replaced the damaged aorta with an artificial blood vessel.

During the surgery, the patient’s blood pressure suddenly dropped when the damaged section of the aorta was exposed, creating a critical situation. The medical team promptly initiated cardiopulmonary bypass to maintain his blood pressure and circulation and continued the procedure. After more than five hours of surgery, Mr. Lee was safely transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.

Although he experienced several critical moments, including a drop in oxygen saturation when the medical team attempted to remove his ventilator after his condition improved, Mr. Lee eventually completed a month of intensive care in the Intensive Care Unit and was transferred to a general ward.

▲ Asan Medical Center recently announced that it had successfully treated Mr. Seung Man Lee, a 99 year old patient, for aortic dissection.

The photo shows the birthday cake (left) and a letter and snacks prepared by Professor Min Jung Ku of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center to celebrate Mr. Lee’s 100th birthday in his hospital room after surgery.

As Mr. Lee continued to recover, he celebrated his 100th birthday in his hospital room at Asan Medical Center on Wednesday, August 5. Professor Min Jung Ku, who performed the surgery, prepared a cake herself and held a small birthday celebration with the medical team to mark his successful recovery and 100th birthday.

Professor Min Jung Ku of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center said, “Given the patient’s advanced age, the surgery was extremely challenging. However, thanks to the expertise our dedicated aortic disease team has developed through extensive clinical experience, he was able to recover safely and return home. His recovery was slower than usual due to his age, but we wanted to offer a small celebration with our heartfelt wishes for him to remain healthy for many years to come.”

Mr. Lee said, “This is the first time in my life that I have celebrated my birthday in a hospital room. I am grateful enough that you saved my life, but I am truly thankful to my doctors for giving me such a wonderful celebration.”