TREATING & CURING THE HEART DISEASES CONSIDERED UNCURABLAE

The Challenges & Solutions in Cardiovascular Care conference was held in Ludhiana on 10 th June, 2023 by Cardiology & Cardiothoracic Surgery Department Christian Medical College Ludhiana, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow & Arrhythmia Support Network (a patient support & education group). Prof William Bhatti , Director Christian Medical College Ludhiana inaugurated the function along with Prof Rakesh Aggarwal , Prof Ram Gopal Shahi ,Prof Allen Joseph &  Dr Gurbhej Singh. The theme of the scientific meeting was to discuss the challenges, technologies, and newer scientific developments in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Few diseases were patient related challenges and work, innovate, research to find solutions to help patients overcome their disease some of which were considered in past incurable.

Prof Naveen Garg , professor Cardiology from Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science  described how it is possible to treat disorders like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with new drug -mavacamten , newer drugs like Bempedoic acid for high lipid or cholesterol disorders not responding to routine drugs and lifestyle measures and intolerant to statins ( causing muscle pains) and RNA drugs lower lipoprotein(a) and genetically driven cholesterol which were not curable before and leads to premature cholesterol deposition in blood vessels and early death and newer medical therapy for heart failure (weaker heart patients) and hypertensive patients. He also describes a novel innovative technique for trans radial navigation for facilitating angioplasty for patients with tortuous or unsuitable radial artery (blood vessel in wrist) making it possible to perform the procedure from hand rather than leg. This technique has been internationally acknowledged by USA and European heart societies and a proud moment for Indian cardiology community. He also described how he is able to use the newer drugs in combination with Rosuvastatin & Ezetimibe to have effects similar to PSK9 inhibitor drugs which are a very costly treatment at present.

Sudden cardiac arrest is number one killer in the world. With the latest advances in treatment of disorders leading to sudden cardiac death or other heart rhythm disorders like it is possible to prevent these deaths. World cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillation awareness week and World Heart Rhythm Awareness Week are being celebrated in the month of June to improve the awareness regarding Sudden Cardiac Death.

Dr Rohit Walia , associate professor cardiology & cardiac electrophysiologist at Christian Medical College Ludhiana  described that how newer advances in atrial fibrillation & ventricular arrhythmia ablation – a minimally invasive non-surgical therapy to deactivate abnormal heart rhythm circuits can overcome serious heart rhythm problems which if untreated can result in stroke , sudden death or heart failure and best solution for arrhythmia or heart rhythm problem is to kill the arrhythmia(abnormal circuits) by deactivating it by ablation. Theme for public awareness is “ELIMINATE PREVENTABLE DEATHS – ITS POSSIBLE TO KILL YOUR ARRHYTHMIA BEFORE IT KILLS YOU”.

Prof Shibba Chhabra from Hero Heart Institute described how she is worried about rising incidence of acute coronary events (heart attack) in young patients and females. Atherosclerotic heart disease in which cholesterol deposition occurs in heart blood vessels previously was considered a disease of older age group and females were considered at low risk. Being the first female intervention cardiologist of Punjab, she also described her innovations, research and social work to help these patients and promote healthy heart habits and diet to young and school going children.

Prof Allen Joseph (Head of Department Cardiac Surgery CMC Ludhiana) & Dr HS Pannu , Dr Nikhil Bansal (Head Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Ludhiana) , Prof. Parminder Singh ( PGI Chandigarh) Dr Mohit Walia ( Shalby Hospital Chandigarh) described newer innovations and improvements  in surgical valves which last longer and permits transcatheter non-surgical therapies if required in future by these patients.

Dr Preeti describe how newer transcatheter innovations and therapies can help patient with valvular heart disorders and many high-risk patients or patients with failed surgical valves or rings can be treated without surgery with newer heart valves which can be delivered without surgery and also to failing surgical valves.

Dr Praveen Shree Kumar, Director Cardiac Electrophysiology, Aster Medicity describe how heart failure patients with conduction system disease (left or right bundle branch block) can be cured by newer innovations and technique of combining conduction system pacing and cardiac resynchronization.  Dr Rohit Walia & Dr Praveen Shree Kumar HEART FAILURE WITH LEFT OR RIGHT BUNDLE BRANCH CONDUCTION SYSTEM DISEASE CAN BE COMPLETELY REVERSED WITH CONDUCTION SYSTEM PACING AND CARDIAC RESYNCHRONISATION AND PATIENT CAN LIVE A NORMAL LIVE rather than dying prematurely without treatment.  ALSO – CONDUCTION SYSTEM PACING IS THE RIGHT WAY OF PACING which is offered by newer technologies and is highly successful and pacing in old way risk you for progressing to new onset heart failure or incomplete resolutions of symptoms.

The key public message is to spread awareness about newer innovations and technologies with which it is possible to treat and cure most of heart diseases whether it is coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, heart rhythm disorders like atrial fibrillation & ventricular arrhythmia or heart disease in children and young. Key is to take this treatment in time before development of irreparable damage with sudden cardiac death, stroke or heart damage.   The success of a doctor lies in his patient successfully overcoming his disease and the message has been circulated to help patients and general physicians understand and be aware of newer therapies to overcome their disease and lead a healthy fearless life.

This message has been issued for patient education by Cardiology and cardiac surgery department Christian Medical College Ludhiana and Arrhythmia support network.

Dr Rohit Walia

MD, DNB, DM (Cardiology)

Associate Professor Cardiology

Christian Medical College, Ludhiana