Path breaking Heart Surgery performed at Chettinad Health City
Chettinad Health City, state-of-art multi-specialty hospital at Kelammbakkam on the IT Corridor Chennai, has now to its credit an exceptional & rare surgery - Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE) (Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy is not a common procedure
-- Chettinad Health City, state-of-art multi-specialty hospital at Kelammbakkam on the IT Corridor Chennai, has now to its credit an exceptional & rare surgery – Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE) (Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy is not a common procedure. Dr. R. Ravi Kumar, Director, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease & Robotic Surgery Center, CHC performed the surgery on May 12th 2009 on a 54 year old man, who had a history of shortness of breath, chest discomfort, giddiness for last 3 – 4 months. The Patient has recovered and doing well.
Speaking to media at a press conference here, Dr.Ravikumar said, “Many people experience blood clots in their lungs (pulmonary emboli).In a small percentage, the clots do not dissolve but stick to the vessel wall and obstruct blood flow. The result is chronic pulmonary thromboembolic disease — not so uncommon but surgically treatable cause of pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. Pulmonary Thromboembolic disease is seriously under-diagnosed in patients. The surgery is very complex and very few centers across the world perform the PTE.
The patient is cooled to 18° C, the heart is stopped, the blood circulation in the body is stopped (Hypothermic Circulatory arrest) and the operation is performed in an expedious way. The operation needs surgical skills and precision of the highest standards.” Further more, this is cohesive teamwork with expert anesthesiologists, perfusionists, nurses and paramedical staff.
Dr.Ravikumar added, “The benefits of PTE are significant. Most patients after surgery no longer suffer fromshortness of breathand therefore have a much-improved quality of life. Further,Pulmonary Vascular Resistance drops back to close normal levels. As a result of the operation, patients are spared from pulmonary hypertension and further right ventricular failure. Most pleasing is that patients who previously had right heart dysfunction often recover function. About medical costs Dr. R. Ravi Kumar said, our packages are competitive, cost of surgery will be less than what is charged by any hospital in our category.
Mr. Venkat Phanidhar, CEO of CHC said,” CHC today has 256 full-time doctors with women constituting around 40%. The Institute of Cardio Vascular Disease at CHC is among the best not only in India but also in Asia with specialized surgeries like the Robotic Surgery and the PTE being carried out in Chennai. To this effect, Rs. 40 Crore has been invested on special equipment inclusive of Rs.25 crore + in the Institute of Cardio Vascular Disease.
CHC offers an integrated research support system & will function as a converging point for high – end medical research and academics. It will promote postgraduate and doctoral research across various disciplines like Nano technology and stem cell research, which can be employed in a variety of neurological and cardiac conditions.