Kerala gets advanced cardiac care lab, the first of its kind in the state and one of the very few exclusive cardiac electrophysiology labs in the country. Unveiled at the state-run Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, the advanced cardiac electrophysiology laboratory helps early diagnosis and treatment of several cardiac ailments.
Thiruvananthapuram (ISJ) – Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST) has unveiled an advanced cardiac electrophysiology laboratory for early diagnosis and treatment of several cardiac ailments.
The lab is the first of its kind in Kerala and one of the very few exclusive cardiac electrophysiology labs in the country. The advanced facilities at the Lab include Electrophysiology Navigation, Online radiation monitoring, Integration with 3D mapping, 3D mapping guided Ablation and Device implantation.
“This is a facility with a number of advanced technologies. This is for patients with irregular cardiac beats which create many problems. It can pick up the origin of abnormal heart beat, with three dimensional view of the heart and track, map and destroy the path of propagation of the abnormal electrical discharges using radio frequency waves. In some serious cardiac arrhythmias, an electrode is placed inside the heart which can sense impending dangerous rhythm and abort chances of arrhythmia,” Dr Asha Kishore, Director of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology told Indian Science Journal.
The advanced facilities in the new Lab will help accurate diagnosis of cardiac rhythm disorders like palpitation, giddiness, loss of consciousness etc. It can localize the origin and pathway of spread of such abnormal cardiac arrhythmias most accurately and systematically. In addition, this technology can be used to detect patients at risk of sudden cardiac death and treat them at the earliest.
SCTIMST is a national facility for tertiary care of cardiovascular and neurological diseases under the Union Ministry of Science & Technology.
It has investigated and treated around 6000 patients with the earlier generation EP lab every year of which 800 were advanced procedures, besides implantation of complex pacemakers like defibrillators and biventricular pacemakers. The advanced new facility can treat such cases with greater accuracy and efficiency, said Dr Kishore. “The facility can be used for diagnostic procedures if needed, treatment procedures and even coronary angiography in the same session,” she added.
The machine can also detect the level of radiation exposure of medical professionals and patients from continuous X-rays.
The burden of cardiovascular diseases is increasing in India. According to a study published in Lancet (Volume 6, Issue 12, December 01, 2018), cardiovascular diseases contributed 28.1% of the total deaths and 14.1% of the total DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Year) in India in 2016, as against 15.2% and 6.9% respectively in 1990.
