Rare Neck Artery Rupture Successfully Treated at Mekahara Hospital

First successful treatment of Spontaneous Carotid Artery Rupture in Chhattisgarh

First case in the state of spontaneous rupture of the carotid artery and its operation; only 10 such cases have been recorded worldwide in medical journals

The occurrence of Spontaneous Carotid Artery Rupture (SCAR) is extremely rare

The carotid artery is the artery in the neck that carries blood from the heart to the brain

Raipur, January 2026 : The Department of Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, affiliated with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College, Raipur, has once again recorded a historic achievement in the medical field. In an extremely rare and life-threatening condition where the main neck artery—the carotid artery—ruptured on its own, doctors of the Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery Department performed a timely and complex surgery to save the life of a 40-year-old patient. This case has not only surfaced for the first time in Chhattisgarh, but so far only 10 such cases have been recorded in medical journals worldwide.

Neck artery ruptured suddenly while brushing teeth

A 40-year-old resident of Raipur was brushing his teeth at home in the morning when he suddenly experienced severe pain in his throat, and within moments, swelling spread across his entire neck. Shortly thereafter, the patient became unconscious. His family members immediately rushed him to the emergency department of Ambedkar Hospital.

Rare case detected through CT angiography

A CT angiography of the neck vessels revealed the shocking fact that the patient’s right carotid artery had ruptured, and a balloon-like structure had formed around it, known as a Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm. Considering the seriousness of the condition, the patient was immediately referred to the Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery Department to Dr. Krishnakant Sahu.

High-risk surgery with a success rate of only 50–60 percent

The surgery was extremely risky. Due to excessive accumulation of blood in the neck, identifying the artery was extremely difficult. Even a minor mistake could have cost the patient his life, or a blood clot could have reached the brain during surgery, leading to paralysis or brain death. After explaining all the risks to the patient and his family, consent for surgery was obtained.

Artery repaired using bovine pericardium patch

In this highly challenging operation that lasted several hours, the ruptured carotid artery was repaired very carefully with the help of a bovine pericardium patch. The surgery was completely successful, and the biggest relief was that the patient did not suffer any paralysis. At present, the patient is fully healthy.

Spontaneous rupture of the carotid artery is extremely rare

Generally, cases of carotid artery rupture are seen in patients suffering from atherosclerosis, trauma, connective tissue disorders, infection, or tumors, but this patient was completely healthy. Spontaneous rupture of the carotid artery is considered extremely rare in the medical field.

What is the carotid artery

The carotid artery is a major artery located on both sides of the neck, which ensures the flow of blood from the heart to the brain. Damage to this artery poses an immediate threat to the patient’s life.

Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal congratulated the Dean of the medical college, Dr. Vivek Choudhary, Medical Superintendent Dr. Santosh Sonkar, and the Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery team for the successful surgery of this rare case and the unprecedented achievement, describing it as a matter of pride for the institution.