June 18, 2011
School of Medicine, Kochi
 

At BADR CARDIOCON 2011, the interventional cardiology CME recently organized in Muscat, Oman, senior faculty from the Amrita Department of Cardiology played a key role.
 

Interventional cardiology refers to the treatment of heart diseases without surgery. In the past, a bypass surgery was needed even for minor heart problems. Today, interventional cardiology helps cure most heart complications.
 

“Interventional cardiology operation is safer although it needs more time and patience,” stated Dr. K. K. Haridas, Professor and Head of the Department of Cardiology at Amrita.
 

The CME was organised by the Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Polyclinics. Over 150 doctors practising in various disciplines in hospitals across the country attended.
 

Senior Amrita doctors provided an overview of CME topics that included all aspects of interventional cardiology.
 

Dr. K. K. Haridas presented an overview of adult cardiac interventions while Dr. Balu Vaidyanathan spoke on the scope of pediatric cardiac interventions.
 

Current developments in cardiac electrophysiology were summarized by Dr. K. U. Natarajan and a lecture on trans-radial interventions was delivered by Dr. T. Rajesh.
 

In addition to the lecture sessions, there was live transmission of cases from Amrita’s Catheterisation Lab in Kochi to the Muscat CME site over ISDN lines.
 

Attending doctors widely praised this unique initiative as the highlight of the CME session.
 

Live interventions included a primary angioplasty and carotid stenting performed by Drs. Rajiv C. and Vijay Kumar from Amrita. The beneficiaries were a 32 year old who had a hole in his heart and a 42 year old man who had suffered an acute heart attack.
 

Pediatric interventions comprised of an ASD device and a PDA coil closure by Drs. Krishna Kumar and Edwin Francis. Patients suffered from blockages in the heart.
 

“The live transmission created a major impact in Oman,” stated the Amrita team. “The effort was greatly appreciated by the entire audience consisting of cardiologists, physicians and general practitioners. This was the first time they had seen such a live transmission of cases in Oman.”
 

Dr. Kumar Menon from the Department of Telemedicine and Shri. Kishore from the audio-video department coordinated the technical aspects of the live transmission from the Amrita end.
 

Oman, as many other countries around the world, has witnessed a surge in cardiac cases resulting from changed lifestyles of modern times. More people visit the hospitals seeking treatment for high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. Now doctors in Oman will be more qualified to treat such cases.
 

“The success of this CME will pave the way for a deeper relationship between Oman and Amrita in patient care, education and training,” remarked the Amrita team. “We have taken a significant step in our overseas activities through this venture.”