Trichy cardiac connect was a cardiac CME program conducted by Apollo specialty hospital, Trichy at hotel Courtyard by Marriott on Sunday, 26th November. Many senior physicians, cardiologists, and general practitioners in and around Trichy attended the program.
Speaking on the occasion, COO of Madurai division of Apollo hospital, Mr. Neelakannan who was the chief guest thanked and appreciated the efforts of all senior doctors in the community in utilizing the services of Apollo hospital, Trichy for state-of-the-art treatment and patient care. Dr. M.Chenniappan, honorary director of medical education stressed the need for doctors to be continuously updated through these CME’s, and highlighted how the practice and management of certain cardiac diseases like heart failure has changed over time. Speakers from Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru participated and the meeting ended with a panel discussion involving cardiology team of Apollo hospital; the session being moderated by senior cardiologists Dr R.Krishnan and Dr. R.Manivasagam.
Since the inception in 2013, cardiac department in Apollo hospital has helped in catering to the need of patients across 6 districts – Thanjavur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam , Mayiladuthurai. Mr. Jayaraman, Vice President & Unit Head of Apollo hospital, Trichy mentioned that several patients of the delta districts have benefitted through advanced cardiac procedures like Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS), hybrid revascularization, pediatric interventions, and complex electrophysiological studies in their hospital.
Dr Kader Sahib Ashraf, senior cardiologist elaborated how the unit has been functioning as a spoke and hub model. Hub, being their tertiary care in Apollo hospital and spokes, being the many primary and secondary care centers including several nursing homes. In this way, he said it felt satisfying to get connected with doctors and patients in primary and secondary care centers through newer technologies. By communicating with the primary care physician and learning more about a particular patient including their ECG has helped identify and treat several myocardial infarctions. He also said Apollo ambulance is equipped with all emergency facilities to ensure patients not only reach hospital quickly, but their treatment is already started before they reach the hospital.
Addressing the media, Dr. Shyam Sundar said periodic classes for nurses and paramedics have been organized in the hospital. Many staff nurses from various hospitals in Trichy have actively participated in training programs like ACLS and BLS. Emergency resuscitation will go a long way in saving one’s life he added.
Dr. Ravindran, consultant cardiologist discussed about the Apollo Pro Health cardiac check up which is an advanced cardiac screening package for healthy individuals. He said it helps us in identifying risk factors early and Artificial intelligence has enhanced the ability in picking up high risk people who need to be monitored periodically.
Cardiothoracic surgeons Dr. Srikanth Bhuma and Dr. Aravind spoke about the challenges faced in treating a patient who is posted for a cardiac surgery. They added that advances in surgical techniques have now enabled shorter ICU care, quicker discharges, smaller surgical scars, and less pain. Many critically ill patients requiring emergency surgeries but who cannot withstand long travel have now benefitted from complex cardiac surgeries being performed in Trichy.
Dr Vijay Shekar, electrophysiologist briefed about the importance of cardiac rhythm disturbances and treatment being offered for the same. It may range from a simple pacemaker or an ICD implantation to complex 3D mapping with radiofrequency ablation of cardiac nerves.
Multidisciplinary approach is the way forward to comprehensive and quality care to a high-risk patient said cardiac anesthetists Dr. Saravanan and Dr. Rohini. Being a tertiary care hospital, it is a personal challenge for them as many critical ill patients with multiple comorbidities get admitted in critical care units.
Dr. Sivam, medical administrator thanked the audience and spoke about future plans of getting in touch with public for awareness programs, reaching out to institutions for BLS, ACLS training, strengthening pre hospital treatment initiation in ambulances and getting connected to more primary, secondary care centers.