Rare Neuro-Interventional Procedure Saves 2.5-Year-Old at ApolloMedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow
In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at ApolloMedics Super Speciality Hospital successfully performed a highly complex and rare neuro-interventional procedure—Intracranial Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis—saving the life of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl. This advanced brain procedure was performed for the first time in Uttar Pradesh by Dr. Dewansh Mishra, Interventional Neuro-Radiologist at ApolloMedics Hospital, along with the interventional radiology team including Dr. Arpit Taunk and Dr. Amol Srivastava.
The case is also being presented at the prestigious Indian National Stroke Conference 2026, scheduled to be held in Kochi from 12th to 15th March 2026.
The child was brought to the hospital in a critical condition after suddenly losing consciousness, developing paralysis in her limbs, and experiencing repeated fainting episodes. Emergency imaging, including MRI, CT scan, and angiography, revealed a clot in a deep cerebral vein—a condition known as Cerebral Venous Thrombosis, which can lead to severe brain injury or even death if not treated promptly.
The Pediatrics team comprising Dr. Sciddhartha Kunwar, Dr. Nishant Gopal, Dr. Siddharth and Dr Anubhav Patel initially started treatment according to standard medical protocols. However, due to the severity of the condition and the child’s limited response, the medical team decided to proceed with intracranial catheter-directed thrombolysis, a technically demanding procedure rarely performed in such young patients.
During the procedure, a fine micro-catheter was inserted through a small puncture in the leg and carefully navigated through the blood vessels up to the affected deep vein in the brain. Clot-dissolving medication was then delivered directly at the site. The child was monitored continuously for four days with repeat CT scans and angiography, after which the clot was successfully dissolved.
Following the procedure, the child remained under intensive care, was gradually weaned off ventilatory support, and continued to receive specialized medical management. After approximately three weeks of treatment, she was discharged in a stable condition. She is now able to walk, speak, and carry out normal daily activities.
Speaking about the successful procedure, Dr. Dewansh Mishra, Interventional Neuro-Radiologist at ApolloMedics Hospital, said, “A blood clot in the deep veins of the brain is an extremely serious and life-threatening condition, especially in children. Such procedures are rarely reported even in international medical literature, and this is the first case of its kind in Uttar Pradesh.”
He further explained,
“The child was suffering from APLA syndrome, a genetic condition that increases the tendency of blood to clot excessively. Combined with infection and dehydration, this led to the condition. Without timely intervention, saving her life would not have been possible.”
Dr. Mayank Somani, MD and CEO of ApolloMedics Super Speciality Hospital, described this achievement as a significant milestone in advanced neuro-interventional care. He stated: “The objective of ApolloMedics Super Speciality Hospital is to make even the most complex treatments safe, accessible, and effective. The success of such a rare procedure demonstrates that we are providing world-class medical facilities to patients within Uttar Pradesh"
