Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 20: Department of Cardiology at AIIMS Jammu has initiated advanced cardiac procedures in its newly established Cath Lab, marking a significant milestone in strengthening tertiary cardiac care services in the region and ensuring timely, life-saving treatment for patients with critical heart conditions.
In a recent instance, the Department treated two patients with acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) on a single day by performing percutaneous coronary intervention (angioplasty). Both patients had lower-wall heart attacks, and one of them had developed a dangerously slow heart rate due to complete heart block.
Prompt angioplasty restored blood flow to the heart in both cases, and the patient with complete heart block regained a normal heart rhythm, underscoring the critical importance of timely medical intervention.
The Department has also successfully carried out two dual-chamber pacemaker implantations. One patient was suffering from a high-grade heart block, while the other had sick sinus syndrome, a condition in which the heart’s natural pacemaker fails to function properly. Both patients showed significant clinical improvement following pacemaker implantation, with stabilization of heart rhythm.
Prof (Dr) Shakti Kumar Gupta, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Jammu, stated that the commissioning of advanced Cath Lab services marks a major step forward in expanding comprehensive cardiac care at the institute. “The availability of advanced interventional cardiology services at AIIMS Jammu will significantly reduce treatment delays, improve patient outcomes, and relieve patients from the burden of traveling outside the region for critical cardiac care,” he said.
The credit for these services goes to Dr Mayank Saini and Dr Zubair Farooq, Assistant Professors in the Department of Cardiology, who are currently spearheading cardiology services at AIIMS Jammu.
Looking ahead, the Department of Cardiology plans to further expand its scope and offer a comprehensive range of advanced cardiac procedures, including CRT-D, leadless pacemakers, PTMC, TEVAR, peripheral vascular interventions such as limb and carotid artery stenting, and advanced valve procedures including TAVI.
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