A year ago, B. Elankumaran, now 31, experienced severe chest pain. Earlier, he had shortness of breath and mild pain, but had not given it a second thought. This time, he was hospitalised. Doctors told him his condition was serious — he had an aortic dissection and a genetic condition, Marfan syndrome. Referred to Chennai, he was told that he would require surgery within 24 hours. The surgery was done, and now, he says he is fine.
Mr. Elankumaran was one of the few patients who spoke at the inauguration of an exclusive centre for aortic diseases, set up by the Institute of Cardiac & Aortic Disorders (ICAD), SIMS Hospital, on Thursday.
V.V. Bashi, director, ICAD, said September 19 is observed as World Aortic Disease Awareness Day and stressed the need for more awareness about aortic conditions. Since these were generally silent diseases, they came without warning, and could be fatal if untreated, he said. He also spoke of challenges in the Indian sector, such as transportation to centres of treatment, expense and availability of care. N. Ram, chairman, THG Publishing Private Ltd, who inaugurated the Centre, highlighted the need for awareness, and the media’s role in this. “Media has a credible information function,” he said.
The centre will treat a range of aortic diseases and also create awareness. A website on the diseases was also launched. Vice-president of the hospital Raju Sivasamy, and interventional radiologist K. Murali participated.
