Recent advances in cardiac care in India

Verified by Dr. Bhushan Chavan – Consultant Paediatric Cardiology, Apollo Children’s, Navi Mumbai,Dr. Rahul Gupta – Sr. Consultant Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai and Dr. Sanjeev Jadhav – Sr. Consultant CVTS & Heart Transplant, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.

The field of cardiac care in India has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, propelled by technological innovations, improved diagnostic capabilities and skilled cardiologists. These advancements have led to:

• Improved patient outcomes & quality of life.
• Survival rates for heart attacks have increased.
• The number of patients requiring repeat surgeries has decreased.
• The survival rate for heart transplant recipients has increased significantly with the one-year survival rate now over 90%.
• Reduction in the burden of cardiovascular diseases in India.

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS): MICS has become the preferred approach for many cardiac surgeries, as it involves smaller incisions, less tissue damage, and shorter recovery times compared to traditional open-heart surgery and include:

• Robotic-assisted cardiac surgery: Uses robotic arms to perform complex procedures with greater precision and control.
• Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB): Uses minimally invasive techniques to bypass blocked coronary arteries without opening the chest.
• Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB): Involves bypassing the blocked coronary arteries while the heart is still beating, reducing the risk of complications.

Transcatheter Procedures: These procedures involve inserting thin tubes (catheters) into blood vessels to reach and treat heart conditions without open surgery. These procedures are less invasive and have lower complication rates compared to traditional open-heart surgery and include:

• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): Opens up blocked coronary arteries using stents or balloons.
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): Replaces a diseased aortic valve without open-heart surgery.
• Percutaneous mitral valve repair or replacement: Repairs or replaces a diseased mitral valve without open-heart surgery.
• Impella device for heart failure: A mechanical circulatory support system designed to provide temporary assistance to the heart in patients experiencing severe cardiac dysfunction.
• Stent Positioning Assistance System (SPAS): An innovative device that allows for precise placement of coronary artery stents in difficult percutaneous coronary interventions.

Recent advances in pediatric cardiac care

Recent advances in pediatric cardiac care in India have transformed the way congenital heart defects (CHDs) are treated, offering children new hope for a healthier and longer life.

• Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) and ventricular septal defects (VSD): These procedures use catheters to close defects in the heart’s walls without open-heart surgery.
• Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR): This procedure replaces a diseased pulmonary valve with a new one without open-heart surgery.
• Hybrid procedures: These procedures combine minimally invasive techniques with traditional open-heart surgery for complex CHDs.

Advancements in diagnostic imaging have significantly improved the accuracy of CHD diagnosis in infants & children. These techniques include:

• Cardiac Catheterization: A minimally invasive procedure that uses thin, flexible tubes called catheters to diagnose and treat heart conditions in children.
• Fetal echocardiography: This technique allows doctors to diagnose CHDs in the womb, enabling early intervention and planning for treatment after birth.
• Three-dimensional echocardiography: This technique creates detailed 3D images of the heart, allowing for a more precise assessment of CHDs.
• Cardiac MRI: This technique provides detailed images of the heart’s structure and function, helping to diagnose and plan treatment for complex CHDs.

Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai offers expert advanced cardiac care for individuals of all age groups. Our clinicians are highly experienced and provide comprehensive quality care extending beyond cardiac procedures and consultations.

Consult our experts, Dr. Bhushan Chavan – Consultant Paediatric Cardiology, Apollo Children’s, Navi Mumbai,Dr. Rahul Gupta – Sr. Consultant Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai and Dr. Sanjeev Jadhav – Sr. Consultant CVTS & Heart Transplant, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai today.

Call 022 6280 6280 for an appointment.