Record 100 primary angioplasties in 3 months at GMC Anantnag

Srinagar, Jul 19: In a remarkable achievement for healthcare in south Kashmir, the newly established cardiology unit at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag successfully performed 100 primary angioplasties, a life-saving procedure for patients suffering from acute heart attacks, within three months and six days.

The milestone is being hailed as a significant leap in emergency cardiac care for the region, with patients from across south Kashmir, Pir Panjal, and far-flung areas being referred to the facility for immediate treatment of heart attacks.

“These 100 primary angioplasties were carried out with exceptional efficiency. The door-to-balloon time, an essential benchmark for evaluating the efficacy of primary angioplasty, has consistently been maintained at around 20 to 30 minutes. That is at least 10 minutes less than most cardiac centres,” said Dr Syed Maqbool, Head of the Department of Cardiology, GMC Anantnag.

He said the outcomes had been overwhelmingly positive, with all patients recovering well and being discharged in good health, barring one mortality of a patient who was brought in cardiogenic shock.

“Since the inception of the cath lab at GMC Anantnag, not a single patient with acute myocardial infarction, complete heart block, or any other cardiac emergency has been referred outside. Earlier, the absence of a cath lab meant such patients were referred to Srinagar or Jammu, often resulting in fatal delays. Many patients died en route or received treatment too late to make a difference,” Dr Maqbool said.

The department is not only conducting primary angioplasties but also performing high-end coronary interventions, including left main, bifurcation, chronic total occlusion (CTO) procedures, as well as peripheral angioplasties.

In the last three months, GMC Anantnag has implanted the highest number of cardiac devices among all institutions in Kashmir.

These include pacemakers, CRT-P (Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy Pacemakers), CRT-D (Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy Defibrillators), and ICDs (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators).

The cardiology unit’s rapid progress is attributed to the unwavering commitment of Prof Rukhsana Najeeb, Principal GMC Anantnag, who has played a pivotal role in establishing and strengthening the department.

“Her dedication has not only uplifted the cardiac care at GMC but also transformed the overall healthcare landscape in South Kashmir,” Dr Maqbool said.

The success of these procedures is further facilitated by the J&K Government’s Sehat Scheme, which provides complete financial coverage for all cardiac interventions, proving to be a boon for economically weaker sections of society.

As the hospital continues to gain the trust of both common people and referring physicians, GMC Anantnag is fast emerging as a beacon of advanced cardiac care in the region.