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Dr-Kirun-Gopal_associate-professor_CVTS_medicine_amritauniversity_kochi

Dr. Kirun Gopal

Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, Kochi

Qualification: MS, DNB (Surgery), MCh, DNB (CVTS)
kirungopal@aims.amrita.edu
Research Interest: Endovascular Aortic Surgery, Heart and Lung Transplantation, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Bio

Dr. Kirun Gopal completed his MBBS from Kottayam Medical College in 2001. He then did his General Surgical residency at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal finishing in 2005. His Cardiac surgery training was from the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum finishing in 2009.

He then worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Kottayam Medical College for 3 years.

Subsequently, he went to the Cleveland Clinic, USA, to do a 2-year fellowship in advanced adult cardiac surgery and a 1-year fellowship in aortic surgery. Here he had the opportunity to work with world leaders in cardiac and aortic surgery with exposure to latest advances in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, redo cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplantation, and complex open and endovascular aortic surgery.

After returning from the USA, he joined as Assistant Professor at Kottayam Medical College for 3 months before joining the faculty here at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences as Associate Professor.

Publications

Journal Article

Year : 2024

Early and long-term outcomes of mitral valve replacement with mechanical valve in rheumatic heart disease

Cite this Research Publication : Praveen Kerala Varma, Maniyal Vijayakumar, Neethu Krishna, Renjitha Bhaskaran, Rohik Micka Radhakrishnan, Rajesh Jose, Kirun Gopal & Raman Krishna Kumar, "Early and long-term outcomes of mitral valve replacement with mechanical valve in rheumatic heart disease". Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Volume 40, pages 133–141, (2024), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-023-01615-3

Publisher : Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Year : 2024

Outcomes after surgery for infective endocarditis

Cite this Research Publication : Kirun Gopal, Rohik Micka Radhakrishnan, Rajesh Jose, Neethu Krishna & Praveen Kerala Varma, "Outcomes after surgery for infective endocarditis," Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Volume 40, pages 126–137, (2024) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-023-01647-9

Publisher : Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Year : 2024

Selecting the appropriate patients for coronary artery bypass grafting in ischemic cardiomyopathy—importance of myocardial viability

Cite this Research Publication : Varma PK, Radhakrishnan RM, Gopal K, Neethu Krishna & Rajesh Jose "Selecting the appropriate patients for coronary artery bypass grafting in ischemic cardiomyopathy—importance of myocardial viability", Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (2024). Volume 40, pages 341–352, (2024), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-023-01671-9

Publisher : Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Year : 2023

The elephant in the room: Exploring the influence and participation of patients in infection-related care across surgical pathways in South Africa and India

Cite this Research Publication : Vrinda Nampoothiri, Oluchi Mbamalu, Surya Surendran, Candice Bonaconsa, Timothy Pennel, Adam Boutall, Kirun Gopal, Enrique Castro Sanchez, Puneet Dhar, Alison Holmes, Sanjeev Singh, Marc Mendelson, Carolyn Tarrant, Esmita Charani, "The elephant in the room: Exploring the influence and participation of patients in infection-related care across surgical pathways in South Africa and India," Health Expectations, 2023;26(2):892-904. doi:10.1111/hex.13715

Publisher : Health Expectations

Year : 2023

Early and midterm outcomes after off pump coronary artery bypass surgery

Cite this Research Publication : Kirun Gopal, Prashanth Vytla, Neethu Krishna, Greeshma Ravindran, Rohik Micka, Rajesh Jose & Praveen Kerala Varma, "Early and midterm outcomes after off pump coronary artery bypass surgery," Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Volume 39, pages 332–339, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-023-01475-x

Publisher : Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Year : 2022

A Case of Delayed Non-infective Cystic Swelling at the Pacemaker Pocket Site

Cite this Research Publication : Pai PG, Gopal K, Hegde NN. "A Case of Delayed Non-infective Cystic Swelling at the Pacemaker Pocket Site," Cureus, 2022;14(2):e22299. Published 2022 Feb 16. doi:10.7759/cureus.22299

Publisher : Cureus

Year : 2022

Anomalous left atrial chorda and its association with mitral regurgitation

Cite this Research Publication : Madathil T, Sudha LS, Gopal K, Jose RL, Neema PK. , Anomalous left atrial chorda and its association with mitral regurgitation. Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia. 2022 Jul 1;25(3):368-70.

Publisher : Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia

Year : 2022

Early outcomes of cardiac surgical patients who developed COVID 19 in the perioperative period – Results from an online survey

Cite this Research Publication : Valooran GJ, Gopal K, Jose R, Varma PK, "Early outcomes of cardiac surgical patients who developed COVID-19 in the peri-operative period-results from an online survey," Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022;38(1):115-117. doi:10.1007/s12055-021-01242-w

Publisher : Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Year : 2022

Cardiac tamponade as a presentation of COVID-19 after cardiac surgery

Cite this Research Publication : Gopal K, Ahamed H, Jose R, Varma PK. "Cardiac tamponade as a presentation of COVID-19 after cardiac surgery," Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022;38(2):191-194. doi:10.1007/s12055-021-01270-6

Publisher : Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Year : 2022

Multiple mural endocarditis in the setting of COVID-19

Cite this Research Publication : Gopal K, Mary A, Kulirankal KG. Multiple mural endocarditis in the setting of COVID-19. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2022 Jan 20:jeac007. doi: 10.1093/ehjci/jeac007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35048947.

Year : 2022

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiac Surgery Practice and Outcomes

Cite this Research Publication : Kirun Gopal, Neethu Krishna, Rajesh Jose, Surya Sree Chitra Biju, Jaya Suriya Pichandi, Praveen Kerala Varma, "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiac Surgery Practice and Outcomes," Journal of Chest Surgery, 2022;55(1):61-68. https://doi.org/10.5090/jcs.21.125

Publisher : Journal of Chest Surgery

Year : 2022

Flip-flopping atrial septal occluder in the heart

Cite this Research Publication : Gopal K, Chandrasekharan R, Varma PK. Flip-flopping atrial septal occluder in the heart. Eur Heart J. 2022;43(3):243. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa950

Year : 2022

Do alternative approaches work in surgical septal myectomy?

Cite this Research Publication : Varma PK, Krishna N, Jose R, Gopal K, Ahamed H. Do alternative approaches work in surgical septal myectomy?. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2022; 30(1): 84-91. doi:10.1177/02184923211025396

Year : 2022

Posterior mitral leaflet plication with extended septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Praveen Varma, Kirun Gopal, Ahamed, H., and Vanga, S. Babu, “Posterior mitral leaflet plication with extended septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy”, Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-021-01213-1

Year : 2022

Aortic root widening: “pro et contra”

Cite this Research Publication : Srimurugan B, Krishna N, Jose R, et al. Aortic root widening: “pro et contra”, Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2022;38:91–100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-020-01125-6

Year : 2021

Aortic root widening: “pro et contra”

Cite this Research Publication : Srimurugan B, Krishna N, Jose R, et al. Aortic root widening: “pro et contra”. Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-020-01125-6

Publisher : Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Year : 2021

Do alternative approaches work in surgical septal myectomy?

Cite this Research Publication : Varma PK, Krishna N, Jose R, Gopal K, Ahamed H., "Do alternative approaches work in surgical septal myectomy?," Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, 2021 0(0) 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/02184923211025396

Publisher : Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals

Year : 2021

Bleeding complications after dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor versus dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel—a propensity-matched comparative study of two antiplatelet regimes in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Cite this Research Publication : 14. Varma PK, Ahmed H, Krishna N, et al. Bleeding complications after dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor versus dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel-a propensity-matched comparative study of two antiplatelet regimes in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2021;37(1):27-37. doi:10.1007/s12055-020-01052-6

Publisher : Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Year : 2021

Disappearing left atrial appendage clot—the need for a more meticulous search

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Praveen Varma, Kirun Gopal, and Vanga, S. Babu, “Disappearing left atrial appendage clot—the need for a more meticulous search”, Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Springer, 2021;37(4):467-468. doi:10.1007/s12055-021-01154-9

Publisher : Springer

Year : 2021

Surgical challenges in retrieval of an embolized transcatheter valve from the aorta

Cite this Research Publication : Gopal K, Madathil T, Varma PK. Surgical challenges in retrieval of an embolized transcatheter valve from the aorta, Annals of Thoracic Surgery (2021), doi: https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2021.02.024.

Publisher : Elsevier, ScienceDirect

Year : 2021

Repair of ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm presenting as a chest wall swelling

Cite this Research Publication : Gopal K, Jose R, Reshmi Liza Jose, Varma PK. "Repair of ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm presenting as a chest wall swelling". Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, 2021;29(3):226-226. doi:10.1177/0218492320965793

Publisher : Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals

Year : 2021

Surgery for infective endocarditis—analysis of factors affecting outcome

Cite this Research Publication : Gopal K, Krishna N, Varma PK. Surgery for infective endocarditis—analysis of factors affecting outcome. Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, pp. 381–391, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-021-01137-w

Year : 2020

Multi-organ retrieval in donation after brain stem death

Cite this Research Publication : Gopalakrishnan U, Mathew J, Gopal K, Rasheed R. Multi-organ retrieval in donation after brain stem death. Amrita J Med, 2020, Volume : 16, Issue : 2, Page : 95-99, doi: 10.4103/AMJM.AMJM_36_20

Year : 2020

Endoscopic Radial Artery Harvesting

Cite this Research Publication : Chathoth V, Gopal K, Jose R, Padmanabhan M, Varma P. Endoscopic Radial Artery Harvesting. January 2020. doi:10.25373/ctsnet.11569743.

Year : 2020

Cardiac surgery during the times of COVID-19

Cite this Research Publication : Gopal, K., Varma, P.K. Cardiac surgery during the times of COVID-19. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 36, 548–549 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-020-01006-y

Publisher : Springer

Year : 2018

Predictors of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing adult cardiac surgery.

Cite this Research Publication : Sreja Gangadharan, K. R. Sundaram, Senthilvelan Vasudevan, B. Ananthakrishnan, Rakhi Balachandran, Abraham Cherian, Praveen Kerala Varma, Luis Bakero Gracia, K. Murukan, Ashish Madaiker, Rajesh Jose, Rakesh Seetharaman, Kirun Gopal, Sujatha Menon, M. Thushara, Reshmi Liza Jose, G. Deepak, Sudheer Babu Vanga, and Aveek Jayant, "Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Adult Cardiac Surgery". Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia 2018;21:448-54. DOI: 10.4103/aca.ACA_21_18.

Publisher : Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia

Year : 2009

Accurate Localization and Echocardiographic-Pathologic Correlation of Tricuspid Valve Angiolipoma by Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography

Cite this Research Publication : Misra S, Sinha PK, Koshy T, Sandhyamani S, Parija C, Gopal K. Accurate localization and echocardiographic-pathologic correlation of tricuspid valve angiolipoma by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Echocardiography. 2009;26(10):1228-1231. doi:10.1111/j.1540-8175.2009.00997.x.

Year : 2009

A Left Ventricular-to-Right Atrial Shunt in a Patient With a Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect: Role of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography

Cite this Research Publication : Gadhinglajkar S, Sreedhar R, Gopalakrishnan SK, Sadiq A, Rao M, Gopal K. A left ventricular-to-right atrial shunt in a patient with a perimembranous ventricular septal defect: role of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, Volume 23, Issue 5, p.675-8 (2009). doi:10.1053/j.jvca.2008.12.005

Year : 2007

Sternal tuberculosis after sternotomy for coronary artery bypass surgery: A case report and review of the literature

Cite this Research Publication : Gopal K, Raj A, Rajesh MR, Prabhu SK, Geothe J. Sternal tuberculosis after sternotomy for coronary artery bypass surgery: a case report and review of the literature. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Volume 133, Issue 5, p.1365 - 6 (2007). doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2007.01.022

Year : 2006

Migrated Kirschner Wires In The Mediastinum: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature

Cite this Research Publication : Gopal K, Neelakandhan K. Migrated Kirschner Wires In The Mediastinum: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature. The Internet Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2006 Volume 8 Number 2.

Year : 2006

Clinical forensic evidence in burns: Rescuer burns

Cite this Research Publication : Kumar P, Gopal K, Ramnani S. Clinical forensic evidence in burns: rescuer burns. Burns. 2006;32(8):1032-1036. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2006.03.025

Presentation

Year : 2022

Short and midterm outcomes of isolated off pump CABG

Cite this Research Publication : Short and midterm outcomes of isolated off pump CABG- at IACTSCON 2022: the 67th Annual Conference of the IACTS -6-10 April 2022, Jaipur

Publisher : IACTSCON

Year : 2019

Early Surgical Intervention for Infective Endocarditis: Analysis of outcomes

Cite this Research Publication : Early Surgical Intervention for Infective Endocarditis: Analysis of outcomes - as a poster presentation at the 65th Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons, February 2019, Chennai

Publisher : the 65th Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons

Year : 2019

Acute Aortic Syndrome and is there a need for an Aortic Center

Cite this Research Publication : Acute Aortic Syndrome and is there a need for an Aortic Center– presentation given as invited speaker at Thrissur Physicians Club, May 2019, Thrissur

Publisher : Thrissur Physicians Club

Year : 2019

Mitral Valve Pathologies related to Mitral Regurgitation and the Functional Classification

Cite this Research Publication : Mitral Valve Pathologies related to Mitral Regurgitation and the Functional Classification – at the St Jude Medical/Abbot Valve repair Module 1 Meeting, July 2019, Kochi

Publisher : St Jude Medical/Abbot Valve repair Module 1

Year : 2019

The Journey of Mitral Valve Repair – What do the guidelines say and do they say enough

Cite this Research Publication : The Journey of Mitral Valve Repair – What do the guidelines say and do they say enough? – at the 5th Amrita Heart Conclave, December 2019, Kochi

Publisher : the 5th Amrita Heart Conclave

Year : 2018

A case of Kommerells Diverticulum

Cite this Research Publication : A case of Kommerells Diverticulum at the monthly Kochi Cardiothoracic Club, May 2018, Kochi

Publisher : Kochi Cardiothoracic Club

Year : 2018

Diet for Heart Health

Cite this Research Publication : Diet for Heart Health at the monthly COG Kochi meeting, May 2018, Kochi

Publisher : COG Kochi

Year : 2018

Mind the Gap! Transitions in Care in an increasingly complex Cardiac Surgical Population

Cite this Research Publication : Mind the Gap! Transitions in Care in an increasingly complex Cardiac Surgical Population at the Amrita Hospital Medicine Conclave, June 2018, Kochi

Publisher : Amrita Hospital Medicine Conclave

Year : 2018

Aortic Root: Anatomy, Genetics, Guidelines – Where do we stand now?

Cite this Research Publication : Aortic Root: Anatomy, Genetics, Guidelines – Where do we stand now? at the 4th Amrita Heart Conclave, November 2018, Kochi

Publisher : 4th Amrita Heart Conclave

Year : 2017

Surgical Techniques in Tricuspid Valve Repair

Cite this Research Publication : Surgical Techniques in Tricuspid Valve Repair at the 5th Annual Meeting of the Society for Heart Failure and Transplantation, September 2017, Kozhikode

Publisher : 5th Annual Meeting of the Society for Heart Failure and Transplantation

Year : 2017

Lessons learned from the MICS CABG Workshop

Cite this Research Publication : Lessons learned from the MICS CABG Workshop at the 3rd Amrita Heart Conclave – MICS,CABG, November 2017, Kochi

Publisher : 3rd Amrita Heart Conclave

Year : 2011

Simultaneous Revascularisation of Lower Limbs and Bowel from Novel Inflow Source

Cite this Research Publication : Simultaneous Revascularisation of Lower Limbs and Bowel from Novel Inflow Source as a Poster Presentation at the IACTS National Conference, Mahabalipuram, February 2011

Publisher : IACTS National Conference

Year : 2011

ACLS guidelines

Cite this Research Publication : ACLS guidelines at the monthly meeting of Kottayam Surgical Club, April 2011

Publisher : Kottayam Surgical Club

Year : 2011

Heart Surgery

Cite this Research Publication : Heart Surgery at the annual district seminar meeting of Rotary Club, Kollam, July, 2011

Publisher : Rotary Club

Year : 2011

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Cite this Research Publication : Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club, Kottayam, December 2011

Publisher : Rotary Club

Year : 2010

Chest Trauma

Cite this Research Publication : Chest Trauma at the Trauma CME conducted at Matha Hospital, Kottayam, November 2010

Publisher : Matha Hospital

Year : 2008

Unusual Cause of Pulmonary Venous Chamber Obstruction Post Senning Procedure

Cite this Research Publication : Unusual Cause of Pulmonary Venous Chamber Obstruction Post Senning Procedure as a poster presentation at the PCSI National Conference, Cochin, October 2008

Publisher : PCSI National Conference

Education
  • MBBS Government Medical College Kottayam, India 1995-2001
  • MS (General Surgery) Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India 2002-2005
  • National Board (Surgery) National Board of Examinations, India April 2006
  • MCh CVTS Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology 2007-2009
  • National Board (CTVS) National Board of Examinations, India May 2012
  • Cardiac Surgery Fellowship Cleveland Clinic, USA 2013-2015
  • Aortic Fellowship Cleveland Clinic, USA 2016
Area of Expertise
  • Heart Transplantation
  • Aortic diseases and Marfan syndrome
  • Infective Endocarditis
  • Valve disorders
  • Mechanical circulatory support
Reviewer
  • Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Journal of Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology
Professional Memberships
  • Indian Medical Association
  • IACTS | Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons
  • Association of surgeons of India
Presentations
  • Short and midterm outcomes of isolated off pump CABG– at IACTSCON 2022: the 67th Annual Conference of the IACTS -6-10 April 2022, Jaipur
  • The Journey of Mitral Valve Repair – What do the guidelines say and do they say enough? – at the 5th Amrita Heart Conclave, December 2019, Kochi
  • Mitral Valve Pathologies related to Mitral Regurgitation and the Functional Classification – at the St Jude Medical/Abbot Valve repair Module 1 Meeting, July 2019, Kochi
  • Acute Aortic Syndrome and is there a need for an Aortic Center – presentation given as invited speaker at Thrissur Physicians Club, May 2019, Thrissur
  • Early Surgical Intervention for Infective Endocarditis: Analysis of outcomes – as a poster presentation at the 65th Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons, February 2019, Chennai
  • Aortic Root: Anatomy, Genetics, Guidelines – Where do we stand now? at the 4th Amrita Heart Conclave, November 2018, Kochi
  • Mind the Gap! Transitions in Care in an increasingly complex Cardiac Surgical Population at the Amrita Hospital Medicine Conclave, June 2018, Kochi
  • Diet for Heart Health at the monthly COG Kochi meeting, May 2018, Kochi
  • A case of Kommerells Diverticulum at the monthly Kochi Cardiothoracic Club, May 2018, Kochi
  • Lessons learned from the MICS CABG Workshop at the 3rd Amrita Heart Conclave – MICS
  • CABG, November 2017, Kochi
  • Surgical Techniques in Tricuspid Valve Repair at the 5th Annual Meeting of the Society for Heart Failure and Transplantation, September 2017, Kozhikode
  • Aortic Dissection Series from a Tertiary Hospital in South India at the 58th Annual Conference of Indian Association of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons, February 2012, Kolkata
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club, Kottayam, December 2011
  • Heart Surgery at the annual district seminar meeting of Rotary Club, Kollam, July, 2011
  • ACLS guidelines at the monthly meeting of Kottayam Surgical Club, April 2011
  • Simultaneous Revascularisation of Lower Limbs and Bowel from Novel Inflow Source as a Poster Presentation at the IACTS National Conference, Mahabalipuram, February 2011
  • Chest Trauma at the Trauma CME conducted at Matha Hospital, Kottayam, November 2010
  • Unusual Cause of Pulmonary Venous Chamber Obstruction Post Senning Procedure as a poster presentation at the PCSI National Conference, Cochin, October 2008
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