Dubai, UAE, September 18, 2025: A 52-year-old UAE resident has made a full recovery after being admitted to Aster Hospital Al Qusais with a rare and life-threatening cardiac complication caused by a meningococcal bacterial infection. The patient developed cardiac tamponade, a condition where fluid accumulation around the heart creates severe pressure, disrupting its normal function and requiring urgent surgery.
The infection, usually affecting the brain and its protective membranes, unusually impacted the patient’s pericardium — the lining around the heart — without any signs of typical meningitis. This rare form, known as primary meningococcal pericarditis (PMP), has been reported in only a handful of cases worldwide. Prompt diagnosis and a rapid surgical intervention were critical to the patient’s survival.
The medical team, led by Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeons Dr. Sandeep Shrivastava and Dr. Shipra Shrivastava, with interventional cardiologist Dr. Krishna Sarin M.S. Nair, conducted an emergency procedure to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure on the heart. The two-hour surgery successfully restored the patient’s cardiac function. Post-operative care included three days in the ICU and two weeks of intravenous antibiotics, following strict isolation protocols to prevent infection spread.
The patient, a long-term UAE resident with pre-existing uncontrolled diabetes and reactive arthritis, was admitted with severe chest and abdominal pain. Rapid evaluation, multidisciplinary teamwork, and timely surgical intervention were pivotal in managing this complex and high-risk cardiac infection. “This was an extremely rare and challenging case,” Dr. Sandeep Shrivastava said, highlighting the importance of early recognition and coordinated medical care.
Aster Hospital Al Qusais, ranked among the world’s top 350 smart hospitals and 14th in the UAE, demonstrated exceptional expertise in cardiac care, reinforcing the facility’s reputation for handling rare and critical medical conditions. The patient expressed gratitude to the hospital team for saving his life.
This case underscores the significance of early diagnosis, rapid intervention, and specialized care in managing rare cardiac complications from meningococcal infections, offering valuable insights for clinicians worldwide.
