In a pioneering medical procedure, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) recently became the first government hospital to perform a cardiac surgery of its kind, successfully implanting a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator (CRT-D) in a 54-year-old male patient.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, CMCH Dean Dr. A. Nirmala, accompanied by a team of cardiologists, shared details about the case. The patient, Saravanakumar, a 54-year-old from Tiruppur, was admitted to the ICU after experiencing a life-threatening heart condition known as ventricular tachycardia, which causes an irregular heartbeat.

Emergency shock treatment (cardiac defibrillation) was immediately administered, saving his life. Further investigations revealed that Saravanakumar had a severe underlying heart condition and had previously undergone a dual-chamber pacemaker implantation at a private hospital in Tiruppur.

Despite having a pacemaker, Saravanakumar continued to experience recurring episodes of irregular heartbeats, leading the medical team to opt for the CRT-D device implantation. The surgery was performed on January 24.

Dr. Nirmala explained that the CRT-D device, which is implanted in the chest, helps regulate the heartbeat. If it detects a potentially dangerous abnormal heart rate, it delivers an electrical shock (defibrillation) to restore a normal rhythm.

This marks the first time that a CRT-D device has been implanted in a patient in a government hospital in Tamil Nadu. Following the procedure, the patient’s symptoms improved, and he is expected to be discharged in a few days.

Notably, the entire procedure was provided free of charge under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, a surgery of this kind would otherwise cost up to ₹10 lakh in private hospitals, Dr. Nirmala concluded.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/HN)