Better Treatment Hope

Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology. Telegraph picture

Heart-lung machine: It is a device used to provide blood circulation and oxygenation while the heart is stopped. Usually called the heart-lung machine, the device is also referred to as cardiopulmonary bypass because it functions as a means to substitute for the normal activities of the heart and lungs Valve retractor: This platform keeps operating area free for surgeon’s manoeuvres and combines maximum comfort through a quick snap-in coupling for accessories and hooks with stable fixation and excellent exposure. Carriers can be moved and fixed to any position on arms or spreading bar. The new deep-valve hook design is also suitable for working on patients with deep chest Litigation clips and applier: Can be used in open and endoscopic surgery

The state is all set to get its maiden dedicated paediatric unit for cardiac complications.

Patna-based Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology (IGIC) is setting up a 50-bed super-specialty unit at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. It would house state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and surgical facilities. The unit is expected to start functioning by January 2013. It would also have an outpatient department.

A few private hospitals in the capital treat children with cardiac ailments but surgeries on newborns are still rare in the state.

IGIC would cater to neonatal heart patients and children in need of complicated heart surgeries. “With our present 160-bed facility, we can only treat patients above 11 or 12 years. We do not have facilities to treat children with serious cardiac complications. So, we decided to develop the new unit as we feel helpless if some kid comes to us with a congenital heart disease,” said IGIC director Dr S.N. Mishra.

Open-heart surgery, aortic valve surgery, aortic septal defect surgery, ventricular septal defect surgery, surgery to repair coarctation of the aorta, corrective surgeries, patent ductus arteriosus surgery, mitral valve surgery and others would be performed at the facility once it starts functioning, said the director.

As micro surgical tools are required for surgery on children, the hospital is planning to procure those after the building gets ready by December. “The tools will be bought at an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crore. At present, we cannot perform complicated surgeries on children owing to lack of such specialised instruments. There will also be a separate heart-lung machine in the paediatric unit,” Dr Mishra said.

A heart-lung machine is also known as a cardiopulmonary bypass pump. It helps to take over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery, maintaining circulation of blood and oxygen.

The unit would have specialised paediatric cardiac surgeons apart from renowned cardiologists from across the country as visiting consultants.

“Some renowned surgeons from metropolitan cities will offer their services and guidance to the unit. We are also preparing an estimate on how many doctors would be needed on a permanent basis. Once the exercise is complete, a proposal would be sent to the government for approval and appointment,” Dr Mishra added.

IGIC is the only government health facility in the state where angioplasty, angiography, bypass surgery, single- and double-valve replacement, pacemaker insertion and other critical surgeries are performed. The government provides free heart-related surgeries and pacemaker implantation for the low-income group at the hospital.

Sources said around 350 cardiac patients visit the hospital everyday.