Berhampur:With the appointment of a perfusionist,open-heart surgery services at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur likely to start soon.Despite having the fulfledged cardiology department,the MCH during 90`s conducted three open heart surgeries by the then surgeons of the department Prof Suresh mishra,Sachi mishra.However,no open heart surgery conducted during last more than two decades,said the MCH records.The Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery(CTVS)department opened in the MCH around five years ago and started at the super speciality block constructed under Prime Minister Swasthya Surakshya Yojona(PMSSY).The CTVS,with all the required machinaries,is housed on the fifth floor of the multi speciality block at the MCH,constructed under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakhya yojona.Still no open heart surgery caouldnot be done due to lack of a perfusionist.Though,the MCH is the refferal hospital for the southern districts and people with heart ailments reach the MCH,but all the complicated cases reffered to hospitals at Bhubaneswar,Cuttack or Visakhapatanam.Several organisations has repeatedly urged for appointment of a perfusionist,as the southern region has a good number of heart patients.Even the social organisations resorted to agitational path,but to no avail.As a result of which,patients in need of complex cardiac procedures were forced to seek treatment at expensive private hospitals.However,after BJP came to power,steps were initiated to meet the need and to make the CTVS department to conduct open heart surgeries,following repeated urge by the MCH Supt,Prof Suchitra dash.The major hurdle of a trained perfusionist,a critical operator responsible for handling the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgeries,now solved,said Prof Dash virtually seen relieved. Following her frequent endavour,the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET),a perfusionist was deputed from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack to the MKCG Hospital.Now,patients suffering from heart ailments will be able to access surgical care in the MCH soon,said Prof Dash,who received a directive from DMET on wednessday.Incidently,the CTVS department is equipped with a modern operation theatre and advanced medical equipment necessary for complex heart surgeries.Even it has the heart-lung machine, which maintains blood circulation in the body during heart surgery.Despite having the infrastructure,the absence of expert handling of the machinaries by a perfusionist,the department had stalled surgeries until now,but the problem over,said Prof Sarada prasanna sahu,Associate professor and HOD of the CTVS.With the perfusionist now in place,the CTVS department plans to conduct surgeries for critical heart conditions like septal defects,valve disorders and coronary artery bypass procedures,said Prof Sahu.Last month, prof Sahu with his team conducted a crtical operation on a youth,on whose chest a piece of a knife stuck since past couple of years.A dedicated team of four doctors and supporting nursing staff has been prepared.Four patients with serious heart conditions have already been identified for the first phase of surgery,said Prof Sahu.` We have now Machines including 1.Heart Lung machine, IABP, ACT, Defibrillator supplied by Central Govt under PMSSY scheme,2.ECHO,ECG,ABG and hand instruments for open heart surgery,supplied by Indian Rare Earths Lts under their CSR activities and 3.Syringe pumps, temporary pacemaker have been supplied by OSMCL,govt of Odisha`,said prof Sahu.The Perfusionist has been deployed from SCBMCH to MKCGMCH as there is no post for Perfusionist at MKCGMCH said Prof Sahu.He said,CTVS ICU has been well equipped with all gadgets that’s required for open heart surgery.Consumables and drugs and disposables tender has been done and within 2 week time we will be able to get them needed for open heart surgery,he said.Now,open heart surgeries like Holes in heart chambers – ASD, VSD; Valve replacement surgery – MVR, AVR; CABG can be done,he asserted.
