PRES S NOT E "Hybrid" procedure for Acute Heart Attack.

"Hybrid" Balloon Angioplasty followed by Coronary Bypass Surgery in Acute Heart Attack

Dr.P.Ramesh Babu, Chief Cardiologist and Managing Director of Dr.Ramesh Cardiac and Multispeciality Hospital Ltd., during the press meet elaborated on "Hybrid" Balloon Angioplasty followed by Coronary Bypass Surgery in Acute Heart Attack. He pondered at length on the wonders of modern day medicine and elucidated on how the endeavours and timely intervention of the Cardiologists and Surgeons of his team saved the lives of two young patients, both potential bread winners and individuals of good social standing. HYBRID procedures are complex, life-saving measures applied in modern day cardiology wherein a person afflicted with acute heart attack is taken up for emergency coronary angiogram and is subjected to balloon angioplasty to open the culprit vessel and tide over the crisis and buy time before adequate arrangements are made for emergency coronary bypass surgery to tackle multi-vessel coronary artery disease. Such HYBRID procedures are contemplated for patients who present themselves to the hospital rather late after the onset of acute chest pain and have multi-vessel disease angiographically and have multiple complications arising from the acute heart attack. In medical parlance, it is known as haemodynamic instability and cardiogenic shock, Dr.RameshBabu explained. Such individuals require life-saving measures on warfooting and a huge team of well trained and experienced doctors, nurses and technicians are required for the rescue-act. The centre is first of its kind in entire Coastal A.P. providing such complex and intricate services , he beamed with some pride. Dr. RameshBabu cited two such instances which he came across at his centre in the past two weeks. The first was that of a 56 year old rice-miller who had chest pain on 14/06/2011 and was transferred from Machilipatnam after 10 hours of onset of chest pain. He was noticed to have significantly large damage to the heart's muscle and angiographically had two vessel disease. Immediate rescue procedure was deferred and attempts were made to stabilise him with measures before surgery. A wait-over of 10 to 15 days would have helped him to be considered as fit for safe coronary bypass surgery. However, he developed a rent or tear in the heart's muscle, a potentially serious and life-threatening complication on 20/06/2011. This complication is known as acquired Ventricular Septal Defect in medical terms wherein a HOLE/SHUNT appears between two different chambers of the heart. The patient was taken up for HIGH-RISK surgery on 24/06/2011 with Intra-aortic balloon pump support, an assist device which helps the heart to pump better and facilitates safe completion of coronary bypass surgery and surgical closure of the ventricular

septal defect. The patient is doing quite well after the surgery and the press members were allowed to meet the same individual and were pleasantly surprised to note that the patient would be ready for discharge in a couple of days.

Dr. RameshBabu introduced the details of another 48 year old patient, an actively practicing chartered Accountant residing barely one kilometer from the hospital. This gentleman had a premonition for a long time that he would have a heart attack at the age of 48 years, same way as his father had a heart attack at the same age. He was using medication regularly for high blood pressure but never had a preventive cardiac check-up in the past. He had chest pain at around 11pm on 28/06/2011 but reached our hospital about 14 hours later. Emergency coronary Angiogram revealed 100% blockage of the culprit right vessel which was the causative vessel for the heart attack, but surprisingly had critical blocks in the other coronary vessels. After performing rescue angioplasty to the right coronary vessel, intra-aortic balloon pump was used to buy time before he could be taken up for multi-vessel coronary bypass surgery. Dr.RameshBabu explained that such HYBRID procedures are required in only 1% of all major heart attacks and only most advanced cardiac care centres can provide such intricate procedures and are very few globally. This young man received five bypass grafts on 29/06/2011 and is doing reasonably well post-operatively. Dr.RameshBabu showered praise on his surgical team members and complimented them for their dedication and relentless services.

Dr.RameshBabu also explained to the fourth estate about the advances and developments in the pipeline for the forthcoming month. He was visibly pleased to announce the inauguration of advanced health care services at the new centre coming up at Labbipet on the arterial Mahatma Gandhi Road. The installation of most Hi-tech