Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery involves the treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the chest (thorax), including treatment of conditions of the heart (heart disease) and lungs (lung disease). The Center of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals,India, is a Center of Excellence, which attracts thousands of patients, including international patients and performs virtually every type of heart surgery. The Center has performed over 1,50,000 surgeries making it one of the most experienced heart care centers in South East Asia. The cardio surgical unit has performed a wide range of surgeries – from neonatal open heart surgeries to aneurysm surgeries to heart transplants, with excellent results.
CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft)
A form of heart surgery that redirects blood around clogged arteries to increase blood flow and oxygen to the heart. The cardiac surgeons at Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, India have great expertise and experience with CABG surgeries. We are versatile and handle critically ill patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction or diffusely diseased vessels. As we avoid the heart – lung machine, we can take on patients for CABG even when there are associated morbidities such as renal disease, compromised lung function or other coexisting diseases. We do total arterial revascularization of the heart off-pump with varying configurations of arterial conduits such as left/right internal mammary arteries, radial arteries, and gastro-epiploic arteries individualized to patient’s requirements.
Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Surgery
Conventional CABG or coronary Bypass surgery is performed by splitting or cutting through the breastbone or sternum. MICAS or MICS CABG is a safe and complete operation that has revolutionised the way coronary surgery is performed. MICS CABG or MICAS stands for Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Surgery. It is a relatively new and advanced technique of performing coronary bypass for coronary artery disease. In this technique the heart is approached through the side of the left chest via a small 4cm incision.
Thoracic Surgery
Extensive and challenging thoracic procedures (lung, esophagus, etc.) are undertaken by our thoracic surgeons with the best results. These include operations for removal of malignancies from the lung and esophagus.They perform minimally invasive procedures on the lung and esophagus as well as VATS (Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery)
Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
Specialized surgery which is performed for the treatment of abnormalities like Mitral Regurgitation (MR) (a valvular heart disease which from the left ventricle into the left atrium of the heart), or Aortic Stenosis (a condition where the aortic valve becomes narrower than normal, impeding the flow of blood) are routinely performed.
Emergency Cardiac Surgery
Surgeries for treatment of complications caused by the dilatation of the aorta (aortic aneurysm), problems caused by irregular heart beat (arrhythmias – such as atrial fibrillation), heart failure, Marfan syndrome – a genetic disorder that causes cardiovascular abnormalities and other less common conditions are performed extensively.
Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR)
Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is used to determine if a cardiac patient really needs a stent or bypass surgery or can be kept only on medicines avoiding any procedure. This highly scientific and evidence based procedure is beneficial to the patient as FFR.
OCT Technique – Optical Coherence Tomography
OCT – Optical Coherence Tomography is a light based catheter which acquires on an image (photo) inside the heart blood vessel. OCT is a recently-developed, catheter-based Intravascular Imaging Technology that provides micron-scale resolution… Read More
Interventional Cardiology
Non-Surgical Closure of Heart Defects
Patients with a hole in their heart, whether an Atrial Septal Defect, a small Ventricular Septal Defect or a Patent Ductus Arteriosus can be closed effectively by Button or Amplatzer’s device or coils.
ClearWay™ RX – Rapid Exchange Therapeutic Perfusion Catheter
The ClearWay™ RX – Rapid Exchange Therapeutic Perfusion Catheter helps save larger area of heart muscle in heart attacks. Cardiac interventionists now know that it is not sufficient to remove the big clot that produces a heart attack; ensuring that the small vessels supply blood to the heart muscle is just as crucial
Dedicated Bifurcation Stent technology for Complex Bifurcation Angioplasty
Bifurcation lesion means there is a blockage in a site where the blood vessel divides into two and is more challenging to treat. Two branches of the blood vessel have narrowing. If a balloon angioplasty is performed in one, there are chances of the other branch closing. Conventionally one or two stents are placed and there are chances of recurrence in the side branch.
Bioresorsable Vascular Scaffold (BVS)
The new Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS), a non metallic mesh tube that is used to treat a narrowed artery, is similar to a stent, but slowly dissolves once the blocked artery can function naturally again and stays open on its own. Similar to a small mesh tube , BVS is designed to help open up a blocked artery in the heart and restore blood flow to the heart muscle . BVS gradually dissolves once the artery can stay open on its own, potentially allowing the blood vessel to function naturally again.
Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold is similar in appearance to a stent, but is a non-metallic,non-permanent, mesh implant which gets absorbed gradually, dissolves over time and allows the artery to function naturally again, similar to the way a cast supports a broken arm and is then removed. This new scaffold disappears over 12- 24 months and supports the vessel until it has the ability and strength to stay open on its own.
Pediatric Cardiology
Pediatric Cardiology deals with heart conditions in babies (including unborn babies), children and adolescents. Structural, functional, and rhythm-related problems of the heart are dealt with a high degree of success.
Some of the procedures performed by our Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons include:
- Atrial Septal Defect – A defect between the heart’s two upper chambers called the atria.
- Ventricular Septal Defect – A defect between the heart’s two lower chambers called the ventricles.
- Coarctation of Aorta – a birth defect that results in the narrowing of part of the aorta (the major artery leading out of the heart).
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus – an abnormal circulation of blood between two of the major arteries of the heart – the aorta and the pulmonary artery.
- Tetralogy of Fallot – a common cause of “blue babies”.
Electrophysiology
Electrophysiology [EP] Study
An EP Study is a specialized procedure conducted by a trained cardiac specialist, the Electrophysiologist. In this procedure, one or more thin, flexible wires, called catheters are inserted into a blood vessel (usually the groin) and guided into the heart. Each catheter has two or more electrodes to measure the heart’ s electrical signals as they travel from one chamber to another.
EP studies are done to diagnose your cardiac rhythm abnormality, to help determine the best treatment, and to pinpoint the site where therapy may be useful.
Cardiac Arrhythmia
Cardiac Arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, is a serious but treatable condition . Arrhythmias occur when the electrical impulses, in the heart, which coordinate the heartbeats don’t function properly, causing the heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly.
Types of Arrhythmias: Paroxysmal Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia [PSVT], Atrial flutter, Atrial Fibrillation, Ventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Fibrillation.
Causes of Arrhythmias: Hypertension, Ischemic heart disease, Valvular heart disease, Cardiomyopathies, Sinus node disease, Tumors, Pericarditis, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Thyroid Disease, Alcohol abuse, Vagal stimulation, Smoking, Modern day life styles etc.
Diagnosis: In order to diagnose an arrhythmia, doctors order specific tests, depending on the type of the arrhythmia that is suspected. In addition to the blood tests, a doctor may order:
- Electrocardiogram / Echocardiogram.
- 24 hour electrocardiogram using a device called Holter monitor.
- Electrophysiology Studies (EP Diagnostic Studies) help to locate the origin of the rhythm disorder better and determine the best treatment.