With hi-tech machine,Sassoon heart patients to breathe easy

Several doctors from army hospitals in Pune and New Delhi and government medical colleges in Nagpur and Mumbai participated in the interactive workshop on Friday. Dr Arun Jamkar,dean of the B J Medical College (BJMC) and Sassoon general hospital also participated in the workshop and welcomed Dr Leng .

The unique feature of the renovated CVTS department is the cardiac ablation device — which is the first in the country,according to Inamdar.On Friday it was used for the first time during bypass cardiac surgery to convert irregular heart beats to regular ones.

The reason for introducing such a hi-tech machine in a government set up is due to thehigh number of poor patients who suffer from rheumatic valvular disease.

The patients are often admitted in an advanced stage with irregular heart beats. “Nearly 50 per cent of the operations performed are to correct valvular heart disease,” says Inamdar. Irregular heart beats often lead to a high incidence of stroke and paralysis and patients need several medications. This is the best therapy we can offer and in a span of 20-30 minutes,the irregular heart beats are converted to regular ones.

The cost of treatment at Sassoon for cardiac surgeries ranges from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1.35 lakh and now 50 per cent of the patients are beneficiaries of the Jeevandayi scheme for below poverty line people.

Other patients who can avail of free treatment here are Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) beneficiaries,central government health scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries and people being funded by charitable institutions.