The Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC) here has crossed 4,000-mark in heart surgeries in nine years claiming a success rate of 99 per cent.
These surgeries include 2,400 bypass coronary heart surgeries, 485 valve replacement surgeries, 640 were for congenital heart disorders and the remaining for other heart complications.
Among the 4,000-plus cardiac surgeries, patients of all age groups were covered and the hospitals' cardiothoracic team had successfully performed rare/complicated surgeries as well.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, A. R. Raghuram, Chief Cardiac Surgeon at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, MMHRC, said that the hospital was able to reach the 4,000-mark in nine years only because of the well-equipped facilities and the good team work of cardiac surgeons, consultants, anaesthetists and the supporting staff.
“We started doing bypass surgeries in March 2003. Today, we are proud to say that our hospital is a pioneer in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery and various other heart surgery procedures as well. For a hospital outside Chennai to have good success rate both in numbers and treatment stands testimony to our team's expertise,” Dr. Raghuram said.
Rare complication
He further explained about a unique surgery done recently at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre for a 28-year-old man of Tuticorin who had developed chest pain and back pain suddenly at night. His physician referred him to Madurai and the doctors' team here diagnosed that his aorta was ruptured.
An urgent surgery was done on January 26.
“He underwent a major eight-hour operation called Bentall's Operation with Aortic Arch Debranching during which time his heart and lungs were in suspended action for two hours. He is now out of danger and put on regular treatment. This is a genetic problem related to blood vessels and his younger brother also was found to be having this disorder,” he informed.
S. Kumar, cardiac anaesthetist, said that the volume of surgeries and success rate in nine years was a splendid achievement.
The doctors also said that patients who come with various heart ailments are being counselled on lifestyle changes such as avoiding smoking, importance of regular physical exercise and control of diabetes/cholesterol.
