Preview: Atrial myxoma surgery is a type of surgery performed by cardiothoracic surgeons to remove benign heart tumours. It is performed through an open, minimally invasive, or robotic-assisted approach under the influence of general anaesthesia for 1-2 hours. The average recovery duration ranges from a few weeks to a few months.

Surgical Steps:

• The surgeons conduct a thorough evaluation with an in-depth medical history, physical exams, imaging tests, and detailed preoperative instructions.
• This procedure involves the removal of the tumour through a small chest incision and carefully dissecting the heart tissues. The patient is monitored along with the tubes in the chest for drainage.
• The recovery phase varies with every approach; a minimally invasive video-assisted procedure involves faster healing and minimal pain compared to an open procedure. Post-operative care involves pain management, incision care, activity restrictions, and gradually increasing the routine.

Benefits:

• Minimally invasive
• Minimum to no blood loss
• Faster recovery
• Minimum hospital stays

Read more about – Atrial Myxoma Excision

Preview: AFib ablation uses radiofrequency to create incisions in the heart, correct cardiac arrhythmias, and long-lasting symptom relief. It includes different techniques such as radiofrequency, cryoablation and laser ablation.

Surgical Steps:

• Prior to AFib ablation, the patient undergoes a comprehensive evaluation, including an ECG and other imaging tests.
• This minor procedure is performed in a cath lab under general anaesthesia; a catheter then releases radio waves to ablate the specific tissues, causing irregular rhythms. The procedure lasts for 2–6 hours. Post-surgery, the patients are monitored for 1-2 days and are advised against certain activity restrictions and medications.
• Follow-up appointments are crucial for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the ablation and managing the pain accordingly.

Benefits:

• Restores the normal heartbeats
• Relief from long-lasting symptoms
• Reduces the stroke-related complications
• MIS with quick recovery

Read more about – Atrial Fibrillation Ablation (AFib)

Preview: Atrial septal defect (ASD) closure repairs the hole between the heart’s upper chambers using a device or surgical closure, depending on the size and location of the opening. It’s a major surgical procedure performed under general anaesthesia for a few hours on young children based on the complexity of their condition to avoid any future cardiac damage.

Surgical Steps:

• This surgery demands a pre-surgical evaluation, including an echocardiogram, and a discussion regarding potential prescription adjustments and fasting requirements.
• The surgeon uses an endoscope to access the heart through the chest. Also, it utilises a heart-lung machine and vital monitoring to close the incision with a plug or a suture.
• The patient stays hospitalised for 1-2 days. The surgeon may advise you to take the medication for 6 months to avoid any infections and rest from any heavy lifting.

Benefits:

• Improves heart functions
• Reduces the risk of complications
• Alleviates fatigue and palpitations
• Offers MI transcatheter closure
• Long-term cardiac health improvements

Read more about – Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Closure

Preview: This surgery uses a catheter-mounted balloon to stretch the heart valves wide open in patients with age-related nerve stiffness, inflammation, and congenital defects.

Types of Balloon Valvuloplasty:

• Balloon valvuloplasty is a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure that opens the narrowed heart valves through several categories, such as:
• Tricuspid valvotomy
• Pulmonary valvotomy
• Aortic valvotomy
• Percutaneous mitral valvotomy

Post-Surgical Care:

• Avoid heavy lifting for a week
• Engage in light walking
• Maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet
• Monitor for complications like insertion site issues or chest pain
• Regular cardiologist follow-ups

Preview: CRT-D, or cardiac resynchronisation therapy, involves implanting a specialised pacemaker to improve heart function. This procedure is recommended for patients at higher risk of sudden cardiac death.

Surgical Steps:

• The gynaecologist may discuss the procedure and prescribe certain medications prior to the surgery. Pre-surgical preparation to make the patient ready involves blood tests, ECGs, MRIs, and ultrasound.
• During the CRT-D implant, the device is threaded into the veins of the heart and a functioning defibrillator is placed under the collarbone.
• Patients stay overnight for constant monitoring with their left arm still and straight for the next 12 hours.
• The surgeons instruct their patients to undergo an EKG test to check heart rhythms and X-rays to trace lead placements.

Benefits:

• Improved heart function
• Reduced symptoms
• Increased survival rates
• Increases the exercise capacity

Read more about – Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT-D)

Preview: Cardiac resynchronization therapy synchronizes the heart contractions and improves the blood flow in patients with severe heart failure. CRT-P is recommended for patients with severe cardiac electrical conditions and is placed in combination with an ICD to prevent sudden cardiac death.

Surgical Steps:

• The surgeon may perform a heart MRI or transthoracic echocardiogram. CRT-P is a minor surgery performed under local anaesthesia for 2-5 hours. The procedure has a recovery period of 1-3 weeks.
• In this surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision, guides lead pellets through a vein to the heart, implants the device under the skin, and stitches the incision.
• Surgery requires patients to stay in the hospital overnight and keep their arms straight and still for 12 hours after surgery. Follow wound care and pain management instructions, and x-rays for heart rhythms.

Benefits:

• Improved quality of living
• Better blood supply
• Treats heart failure symptoms
• Promotes higher survival rates

Read more about – Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT-P)

Preview: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a minor, minimally invasive procedure performed under local anaesthesia for 30 minutes to 2 hours. This procedure inserts a stent that opens up the narrowed carotid arteries, reduces stroke risks, and is the best alternative to methods of surgery.

Surgical Steps:

• During the surgery, the surgeon places a catheter through the groin, inflates the balloon and opens the narrowed arteries. After the catheter is removed, a stent is placed.
• After the surgery, the patient stays in the hospital for 24 hours for vital sign inspections and post-operative instructions are given, including prescription guidance.

Benefits:

• Minimally invasive surgery
• Shorter hospital stays
• Faster recovery time
• Favourable for high-risk patients

Read more about – Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)

Preview: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) redirects the bloodstream around the blocked coronary artery using grafts taken from different parts of the body. It alleviates symptoms like chest pain, reduces the risk of heart attack, and significantly improves the blood flow and the patient’s quality of life.

Surgical Steps:

• Before CABG, patients receive detailed procedure explanations, undergo pre-operative imaging, and are given fasting instructions.
• Under general anaesthesia, a chest incision is made, and vein grafting is performed during the 3-6-hour CABG procedure.
• Following CABG surgery, patients are closely monitored in the ICU and typically require a 7-8 day hospital stay, with strict adherence to follow-up appointments, whereas full recovery generally takes 6-12 weeks.

Benefits:

• Better for multiple blocks or certain deep blockages
• Lower risk for a follow-up procedure
• Reliable for treating ischaemia of the heart

Read more about – Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)

Preview: Cardiac electrophysiology (EP) procedures use catheters to diagnose and treat arrhythmias by tracing and correcting the abnormal electrical activity in the heart.

Surgical Steps:

During a cardiac electrophysiology (EP) study, catheters are inserted and guided to the heart using fluoroscopy. Their tips record the heart’s electrical activity, inducing arrhythmias and performing treatments like ablation to eliminate the cause of arrhythmia.

Benefits:

• Detailed information provider than an ECG
• Pinpoints the source of arrhythmias
• Risk assessment for cardiac death

Types of Electrophysiology Procedures:

• Catheter Ablation
• Peacemaker Implantation
• Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)
• Cardioversion

Preview: A heart transplant replaces a diseased heart with a healthy donor heart, offering a survival chance for patients with end-stage heart disease.

Surgical Steps: Upon donor heart availability, matching is done based on blood type, antibodies, and organ size, followed by transplant surgery, which involves connecting the patient to a heart-lung machine and replacing the diseased heart.

Post-Surgical Care: After the surgery, the patient may require weeks of hospital care and close outpatient monitoring, with the expenses influenced by the hospital choice and other factors.

Read more about – Heart Transplant

What is an ICD? 
The ICD consistently monitors the abnormal heart rhythm and rate (arrhythmias) by distributing self-generated electrical shock to restore a normal heartbeat. It delivers several therapies, such as pacing, cardioversion, and defibrillator.

Why is an ICD required?

• To treat or manage the said conditions, such as:
• Sudden cardiac death
• Treats arrhythmias
• Prolong history of cardiac arrest
• Coronary artery disease
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
• Symptomatic heart failure
• Genetic conditions

Types of ICD

• Transvenous ICD: Leads are threaded through the veins
• Subcutaneous ICD: Leads are placed on the heart muscles, but the device is placed just under the skin
• Biventricular ICD: Leads are placed in all the ventricles in the case of sudden cardiac death

Preview: Mitral Valve Clip is a minimally invasive procedure that repairs a leaky mitral valve (mitral valve regurgitation) using a small device called a clip. The clip attaches to the open valve leaflets and helps them close completely to avoid the backward flow of the blood.

Surgical Steps:

• The surgery is performed after the administration of the general anaesthesia.
• A catheter is inserted into the vein in the leg and guided throughout the heart, where the clip is positioned to grasp and coapt the valve leaflets. Fluoroscopy or echocardiography is utilized to confirm the effectiveness of the clip placement in real-time.
• After the surgery, you are required to stay in the hospital for 5-7 days, take the surgeon’s prescribed medications to prevent blood clots and avoid heavy lifting for a few weeks to promote complete recovery.

Benefits:

• Bypass the open heart surgery and any related risks.
• Improve the symptoms in a shorter period.
• Better quality of life for patients with mitral regurgitation.

Preview: Mitral valve replacement surgery is the treatment performed either by repairing the leaky or stiff mitral valve with a ring or replacing it with a prosthetic valve (tissue/mechanical). The mitral valve is located in between the heart’s left chambers and the surgery aims to restore the proper valve functions.

Surgical Steps:

• Mitral valve replacement can be performed as openly invasive or minimally invasive under general anaesthesia for about 2-4 hours.
• The surgeon then connects the patient to a heart-lung bypass machine, following the removal of the damaged mitral valve through a chest incision.
• Initial post-surgical recovery time spent in the ICU receiving vital monitoring and medication in an openly invasive approach, whereas MI requires only a day.
• Post-surgical care includes regulating your daily activity and attending ongoing health check-ups.

Benefits:

• Reduces the valve disease symptoms
• Lower operative risks
• improved survival rates
• preserves left ventricular functions
• shorter hospital stays

Preview: Open-heart surgery repairs or replaces damaged heart components by making a large chest incision and accessing the heart. This traditional heart surgery can treat various conditions like heart failures, arrhythmias, aneurysms and coronary artery disease.

Types of Open Heart Surgery

• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
• Corrections of congenital heart defects
• Device implantations
• Replacing or repairing the damaged heart valves
• Repairing abnormal areas of the heart
• Heart transplants

Surgical Steps:

• The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia; a 6-8 inch long chest incision is made, followed by connecting a heart-lung bypass machine where the surgeon repairs or replaces the damaged parts. Later, the patient is transferred to the ICU for monitoring and recovery.
• After the surgery, the patient stays for 7-10 days, including the ICU time. Complete recovery involves proper pain management and practicing lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, regular exercises, and restriction from smoking at a gradually increasing pace requiring several months.

Preview: The Ductus Arteriosus, a fetal blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery and aorta, diverts blood from the unused lungs before birth, typically closing within days after birth in full-term infants but potentially remaining open (Patent Ductus Arteriosus or PDA) in premature babies.

Surgical Steps:

• PDA is primarily diagnosed via echocardiogram and EKG, with chest X-rays supporting moderate-to-large cases and pre-surgical monitoring of general conditions like haematocrit and oxygen levels.
• It is a major surgical procedure that requires the administration of general anaesthesia.
• In premature infants, this is commonly achieved through a left-side chest incision between the fourth ribs, utilizing titanium clips. Whereas, older patients may undergo circumferential dissection.
• Routine cardiac and pain management, chest X-ray of endotracheal tube placement, antibiotics for sepsis risk, other vital sign monitoring tests, and pre-discharge vocal cord ultrasound with ENT referral.

Benefits:

• Ensures proper blood circulation
• Helps alleviate symptoms like breathlessness
• Supports normal growth and heart and lung function
• Minimizes the risks of serious infections like endocarditis
• Ensuring faster recovery and reduced discomfort

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Closure

Preview: Pacemakers are implanted devices that stabilise abnormal heart rhythms using electrical impulses. They are indicated for conditions like bradycardia and heart failure, improving heart function and reducing fatigue. This minimally invasive procedure comes with a device lifespan of 7-10 years and can be performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis.

Surgical Journey: It is a minimally invasive type of surgery performed under local or general anaesthesia and fluoroscopy guidance for 30-60 minutes. A pacemaker is inserted via a small incision under the collarbone, with leads threaded through veins to the heart.

Benefits:

• Minimal hospitalizations
• Eradicates bradycardia
• Improved breathing & heart function
• Long-term effectiveness
• Minimally invasive
• No blood loss
• Quick recovery

Permanent Pacemaker Implants (PPI)

Preview: It is a major surgical procedure performed minimally invasive under local anaesthesia, where the duration of the surgery depends on the number of stents placed. This procedure is performed to open blocked or narrow coronary arteries and improve blood flow to the heart.

Surgical Journey: Coronary angioplasty (PTCA) involves inserting a catheter with a balloon into a blocked artery, guided by an X-ray, to inflate and widen the passage, restoring blood flow. A stent may be placed to prevent re-narrowing. The insertion site is cleaned and numbed, and vital signs are monitored throughout the procedure.

Benefits:

• Rapid relief of angina symptoms
• Reduced risk of heart attack
• Minimally invasive procedure
• Improved exercise capacity and quality of life
• Alternative to bypass surgery
• Improved long-term outcomes
• Restores blood flow

PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty)

Preview: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), or rhizotomy, uses radiofrequency to treat varicose veins, tumours, and cardiac arrhythmias. It is a better alternative for people with comorbidities.

Surgical Journey:

• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure using ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans to locate and destroy tumours by delivering high-frequency electrical currents through an electrode, creating focused heat that kills cancer cells.
• A small incision allows for laparoscopic insertion of needle electrodes guided by a camera to ablate the tumour, after which the electrodes are removed, and the incision is closed, with potential post-operative drowsiness or slight pain.

Benefits:

• Pain relief.
• No surgery
• Little to no recovery time
• Decreased need for pain medications
• Improved function and mobility
• Improved quality of life
• Return to regular activities after 1-2 days

Radiofrequency Ablation

Preview: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), is a minimally invasive procedure replacing a narrowed aortic valve in high-risk patients by implanting a prosthetic valve via catheter, which expands over the existing valve and functions immediately, typically completed in two hours.

Surgical Steps:

• Prior to TAVR, patients must discuss medication adjustments, fasting requirements, and allergies with their treatment team to ensure proper procedure preparation.
• During TAVR, a team monitors the heart while a catheter inserted through the leg or chest and guided by imaging delivers a prosthetic valve to the aortic valve, which is then expanded into place, sometimes with a balloon.
• After TAVR, patients must monitor for heart failure symptoms, keep the procedure site clean and dry, take blood-thinning medication, and take antibiotics to reduce infection risk.

Benefits:

• Minimally invasive procedure performed in the cath lab
• No general anaesthesia is required
• No big scar after the procedure
• A short hospital stay of 3-4 days
• Quick recovery and return to normal life
• Lower risk for patients with serious health conditions

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Preview: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a congenital heart defect characterized by four heart abnormalities with unknown causes but potential links to genetic syndromes. It causes cyanosis due to obstructed pulmonary blood flow. Common symptoms include blue lips, abnormal heart sounds, and squatting in older children, with diagnosis aided by fetal echocardiography.

Surgical Journey:

• Early assessment relies on evaluating cyanosis and oxygen saturation, supported by ECG and chest X-rays, with echocardiography being crucial for diagnosis.
• Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is typically corrected through open-heart surgery at around six months of age, involving VSD patch closure and RVOT reconstruction to repair the four heart defects. This procedure aims to normalise blood flow by repairing the ventricular septal defect and relieving right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
• Post-Tetralogy of Fallot repair, variable recovery in paediatric intensive care necessitates lifelong congenital heart disease follow-up, despite potential compliance issues, with regional cardiac centre consultation required for emergencies or elective surgeries.

Benefits:

• Promotes better blood flow to the lungs
• Repairs structural defects in the heart
• Restores normal developmental patterns and activity levels
• After successful repair, children can engage in regular activities without experiencing fatigue or breathlessness

Tetralogy of Fallot Repair

Preview: Heart failure treatment aims to manage symptoms, slow progression, and improve quality of life, often involving lifestyle changes, medication, and sometimes surgery or devices.

Benefits:

• Slows the heart rate
• Lowers blood pressure
• Helps with the overall heart functionality
• Lead a better quality of life
• Slow down the disease progression

Preview: Atrial myxoma excision, performed by cardiothoracic surgeons via open, minimally invasive, or robotic surgery, removes benign heart tumours that are more often incidentally discovered, to prevent fatal complications like heart failure or stroke.

Surgical Journey:

• Prior to atrial myxoma excision, the surgeon reviews the patient’s history, conducts tests like echocardiograms, and provides preoperative instructions.
• During the procedure, performed under general anaesthesia, the tumour is removed through small chest incisions using either robotic or minimally invasive video-assisted techniques.
• Patients recover in a monitored setting with potential chest tubes, experiencing a longer recovery of 2-3 months after open sternotomy versus a faster 3-4 week recovery with minimally invasive techniques.

Benefits:

• Minimal hospital stays
• Minimally invasive technique
• No blood loss
• Promotes faster recovery

Treatment for Cardiac Tumours (Myxoma Excision)

Preview: A ventricular septal defect (VSD), a congenital heart defect, is a hole in the heart’s septum causing oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood, resulting in a heart murmur heard through a stethoscope.

Types of Ventricular Septal Defects:

• Conoventricular Septal Defect: The hole is located at the meeting point of two ventricles just below the pulmonary and aortic valves
• Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect: The hole is present at the upper part of the ventricular septum
• Inlet Ventricular Septal Defect: The defect is at the septum, where the blood enters the ventricles
• Muscular Ventricular Septal Defect: The hole on the muscular part of the ventricular septum. This is the most common type of ventricular septal defect

Benefits:

• Significant improvement in the heart’s functionality
• Restores normal blood flow to the heart
• Reducing the Strain on the heart’s function
• Improved quality of life

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Closure

Symptoms of Arrhythmia:

However, some noticeable symptoms are as follows:

• Chest pain 
• Dizziness
• Fainting/syncope
• The feeling of a slowed heartbeat
• The feeling of a pounding/racing heartbeat
• Fluttering in Chest
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• In some cases, there may not be signs and symptoms, while in other cases, they may even appear frequently or have a sudden onset

Causes of Arrhythmias:

Arrhythmias may have several causes that may include:

• Blockage of arteries in the heart
• Enlarged heart
• Diabetes
• Drug abuse
• Genetics
• Ongoing heart attack
• Sleep apnoea
• Smoking
• Abnormalities of heart muscle

Arrhythmia or Irregular Heartbeat

Symptoms of Heart Failure:

• Wheezing
• Fatigue and weakness
• Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Shortness of breath when lying down
• Cough with white and pink mucus

Causes of Heart Failure:

Diseases and conditions that cause heart failure are as follows:

• Diabetes
• Sleep apnoea
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeats
• Congenital heart disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart valve disease

Heart Failure

Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation:

Symptoms may vary depending on the complexity of the condition. They include:

• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Decreased ability to exercise
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Racing heartbeat or heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness

Causes of Atrial Fibrillation:

Some common causes of atrial fibrillation are:

• Conditions like Atrial septal defects, Sick sinus syndrome
• Defects of valves like mitral stenosis
• High blood pressure
• Hyperthyroid
• Previous heart surgery
• Sleep apnoea
• Stressful conditions
• Viral infections

Atrial Fibrillation

Symptoms of Atrial Flutter:

Some of the common symptoms of atrial flutter are:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Person feel their own heart pounding
• Shortness of breath
• Sometimes fainting or passing out
• Weakness or tiredness

Causes of Atrial Flutter:

Some common causes of atrial flutter include:

• Disturbed electrical impulses at the right atrium
• Conditions like atrial septal defects & sick sinus syndrome
• Defects of valves like mitral stenosis
• Hyperthyroid
• Previous heart surgery
• Stressful conditions

Atrial Flutter

Symptoms of Heart Attack:

Symptoms may vary depending on a mild or severe attack, and may also differ from person to person. They include:

• Feeling weak and light-headed (dizziness)
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating and nausea

Causes of Heart Attack:

• Coronary artery disease
• Plaque buildup
• Blood clot formation
• Atherosclerosis
• Coronary artery spasm
• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
• Trauma
• Embolism

Heart Attack and Angioplasty

Symptoms of Heart Murmurs:

Some of the common symptoms of heart murmurs are as follows:

• Bluish colour of the skin of lips or fingertips (cyanosis)
• Dizziness or fainting
• Increased tendency to sweat
• Long-standing cough
• Prominent neck veins
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden weight gain

Causes of Heart Murmurs:

1. Abnormal heart murmurs in babies:

Any structural defect or congenital heart defect like:

• Septal defects: holes in the heart or cardiac shunts
• Defects in heart valves: abnormality associated with inadequate blood flow through the valve.

2. Abnormal heart murmurs in children and adults:

Infections or conditions leading to damage of heart structure, like:

• Valve calcification (mitral stenosis or aortic valve stenosis)
• Endocarditis
• Rheumatic fever from throat infection

Heart Murmurs

Symptoms of Heart Valve Disease:

• People may experience shortness of breath when lying down or during physical activity.
• The feeling of tiredness or weakness even after a minimum effort
• Chest pain could be a sign of a heart valve problem.
• Dizziness or fainting due to reduced blood flow
• Swelling due to fluid buildup occurs in the ankles, feet, or abdomen
• Heart palpitation, where there is a pounding feeling in the chest
• The murmuring of the heart with a swishing sound under a stethoscope

Causes of Heart Valve Disease:

• Age-related conditions like stiffening of the valves and accumulation of calcium deposits.
• Congenital heart disease, where people are born with the said conditions.
• Infections such as rheumatic fever or endocarditis can lead to damaged heart valves.
• Heart attack and heart failure can lead to a weakened heart, thus affecting the valve functions.
• Radiation therapy can sometimes damage the heart valves.
• Genetic disorders like Marfan syndrome can affect the heart valves.
• Diabetes and severe kidney disease may increase the risk of damaging the heart valve.

Symptoms of Cholesterol and Lipid Disorders:

• High cholesterol levels often go unnoticed until it leads to certain complications.
• Yellowing and fatty bumps on the skin
• Chest pain and fatigue
• A buildup of plaque in the arteries
• The appearance of the white-colored arching around the cornea of the eye.
• Raised yellow lumps on the inner corners of the eyes.

Causes for Cholesterol and Lipid Disorders:

• Unhealthy lifestyle
  • Stress triggers hormonal changes, leading to higher cholesterol production.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption can increase overall body cholesterol.
  • A sedentary lifestyle can reduce the good (HDL) cholesterol.
  • Consuming trans fat, found in processed foods, full-fat dairy, and fatty meat, can elevate bad (LDL) cholesterol.
• Genetics
  • Hereditary causes: If high cholesterol runs in the family, it increases the risk of such disorders.
  • Chromosomal conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia may increase the level of LDL.
• Kidney and liver disease
• Obesity and hypothyroidism

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure (Hypertension):

• Severe headaches
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Nausea and vomiting
• Nosebleeds
• Chest pain
• Abnormal heart palpitation
• Buzzing of ears
• Blurry vision
• Shortness of breath

Causes for High Blood Pressure (Hypertension):

Primary Hypertension:

• Often linked to lifestyle choices and genetics
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Consumption of a sodium-rich diet that lacks potassium
• A family history of hypertension can make the situation more complicated

Secondary Hypertension:

• Often occurs due to underlying medical conditions or any medical prescription.
• Diabetes
• Thyroid diseases
• Adrenal gland disorders (Cushing’s syndrome)
• Kidney diseases
• Sleep apnea

Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease:

• Weakness and dizziness
• Cold sweats and fatigue
• Nausea or indigestion
• Rapid and abnormal heart palpitations
• Pain spreads to the arms, legs, back, neck, and chest
• Short lung capacity and fullness during any physical activity

Risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease:

• Sedentary lifestyle
• Unhealthy diet, i.e., high in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Family history of cardiac conditions
• Smoking

Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD):

• Intermittent claudication (aching pain in the calf muscle that subsides when the body comes to rest)
• Numbness in the legs or feet
• Shiny skin with pale or bluish coloration
• Hair loss of the legs and feet
• Brittle and slowly growing toenails
• Coldness and ulcers on the leg that don’t heal

Causes for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD):

• Plaque buildup on the artery walls (atherosclerosis)
• Smoking
• Hypertension
• High LDL cholesterol
• Family history
• Diabetes

Symptoms of an Enlarged Heart (Cardiomegaly):

• Abnormal heart palpitations
• Arrhythmias
• Chest pain and cough
• Fatigue, swelling, and dizziness
• Restricted ability to perform daily activities
• Shortness of breath

Causes for Enlarged Heart (Cardiomegaly):

• Myocarditis: Infection of the heart musculature
• Cardiomyopathy: A chronic condition of the heart musculature, making it harder to pump blood
• Heart valve disease
• Pulmonary hypertension: High BP in the artery carrying blood to the lungs, causing the right side of the heart to enlarge
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Pregnancy
• Recreational substance abuse
• Anaemia, kidney diseases, or thyroid conditions

Symptoms of Coronary Microvasculature Disease (MVD):

• Atypical angina
• Exercise intolerance
• Fatigue and shortness of breath

Causes for Coronary Microvasculature Disease (MVD):

• Inability to dilate properly
• Damage to the inner wall of the small blood vessels
• Atherosclerosis
• High blood pressure and cholesterol
• Severe diabetes

Preview: Dual-source CT scans, employing two X-ray tubes for detailed cross-sectional imaging, enable advanced coronary angiography, vascular studies, and surgical guidance, with varying generations offering diverse features for numerous medical conditions.

Advantages:

• Offers ultrafast scanning
• Provides comfort while scanning for patients with large anatomical volumes
• Reduces side effects
• Lowers the radiation damage
• High accuracy with fewer repetition

Dual Source CT

Preview: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) uses sound waves to visualize heart blood vessels, detect clots and plaques, assess stent function, and provide detailed plaque composition information, thus guiding treatment for critical heart conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

Advantages:

• More detailed with high-quality images of blood vessels
• Ensures high safety with no radiation exposure
• Reduces the possibility of improper stent placements
• Reduces the complication like restenosis

Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS)

Preview: Ultra-low contrast angiography, including ULC-PCI and zero-contrast PCI, employs advanced techniques to minimize contrast exposure and reduce the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy, particularly in patients with existing health issues.

Advantages:

• Time-efficient procedure
• Minimizes the need for large volumes of contrast injections
• Reduced the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy
• Visualizes even subtle calcifications on the vascular wall

Ultra-Low Contrast Angiography

Preview: BiPlane cath lab technology enables minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of neurovascular disorders in a single session, utilized by neurologists and interventional radiologists for diverse neurological, vascular, cardiac, and electrophysiology studies.

Advantages:

• Minimally invasive procedures
• Advanced 3D software that generates HD-resolution images
• Safety against multiple injections and radiations
• Contains CT scanning using cone beam CT technology

Advanced Biplane Cath Lab

Preview: The da Vinci Xi robotic system revolutionizes minimally invasive surgery by enabling precise, complex procedures through small incisions, minimizing patient discomfort and improving outcomes with advanced robotic technology.

Advantages:

• Minimally invasive, with less likelihood of scarring
• Shorter hospital stay with minimal pain
• An efficient procedure for old age patients with not much physical stress
• Minimal risk of complications such as blood loss during the surgery

Robotic Davinci XI

Preview: PET scans use radioactive dye to identify cancerous cells, which absorb more dye than healthy cells. This allows for early detection of malignancies by visualizing real-time cellular changes, leading to improved treatment outcomes.

Advantages:

• Doesn’t require the patient to change position
• Offers a higher level of accuracy
• The convenience of having two tests in one place
• Scan the body at the cellular level and detect the early onset of any disease
• Provides useful diagnoses and treatment information
• Detects any recurring cancer
• Reveals a precise spread of the cancer

Preview: Cardiac OTs are a specialized surgical facility made to provide a sterile environment for heart surgeries. They are equipped with medical technology for heart-related procedures, ensuring precision and safety.

Advantages:

• Specialized environment
• Improved surgical precision and safety
• Minimally invasive procedure
• Faster recovery
• Reduced risk of infection
• Reduced pain and scarring
• Economically beneficial with a short recovery and faster hospital stays

Preview: The latest electrophysiology laboratory with a 3D mapping facility offers capabilities for evaluating and ablating various arrhythmias.

Advantages:

• Improved Accuracy
• Effective Treatment
• Improved Quality of Life

Preview: Non-invasive heart imaging test determining the extent of narrowing in the coronary artery. The 64-slice CT refers to the technology used to scan faster and more detailed images than the older CT scanners.

Advantages:

• Enable early detection and effective management of coronary heart conditions
• Ensure quick diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate treatment strategies
• Tailored to an individual’s unique cardiac needs
• Ensures optimal recovery and long-term heart health management

Preview: A 2D echocardiogram uses ultrasound to create moving images of the heart and valves, detecting malfunctions and damage like clots or defects, though some discomfort may occur during transducer placement.

Echocardiography (Echo)

Preview: If you’re experiencing unusual stress, fatigue, or shortness of breath, a stress test involving running on a treadmill at varying speeds while your heart rhythm and oxygen supply are monitored is likely recommended for fitness assessment and detecting cardiac conditions in the patients.

Stress Test (TMT)

Preview: CCTA, or cardiac catheterization, provides detailed images of heart vessels to diagnose blockages and guide treatment. During the procedure, a catheter and contrast dye are used to visualize coronary arteries via X-ray.

Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA)

Preview: Ultra-low contrast angiography minimizes contrast dye use during heart and kidney procedures, reducing kidney damage risk. This technique helps patients with severe heart or kidney problems, cardiogenic shock, especially contrast dye anaphylaxis.

Ultra Low Contrast Angiography

Preview: OCT uses light waves to create detailed retinal images, aiding in diagnosing eye conditions by mapping retinal and optic nerve layers. Beyond ophthalmology, OCT techniques are used in cardiology, neurology, and oncology, including OCT angiography for vascular imaging. It is used to visualize coronary arteries, assess plaque characteristics, and guide interventional procedures like PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention).

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

Preview: A Holter monitor, a painless, portable ECG device, records heart activity continuously for 24 hours or more, capturing intermittent arrhythmias and rhythm abnormalities that a standard ECG might miss. This extended monitoring allows doctors to diagnose conditions like arrhythmias, evaluate the effectiveness of current medications, and detect potential heart rhythm problems that may not manifest during brief, in-office tests.

Preview: The thallium stress test uses a radioactive tracer to visualize blood flow to the heart, aiding in the diagnosis and risk assessment of coronary artery disease. This non-invasive test accurately detects ischaemia and predicts cardiac complications like heart attacks.

Thallium Stress Test

Preview: The troponin-I test measures a protein released during heart damage, aiding in the rapid diagnosis of heart attacks. Elevated levels, above 40 ng/L, indicate potential cardiac muscle injury.

Troponin-I

Preview: A MUGA scan uses tracers and gamma rays to measure the heart’s pumping efficiency, specifically the ejection fraction. It helps diagnose heart diseases and assess heart health before chemotherapy, by visualizing ventricular function.

MUGA Scan

Preview: A lipid profile test measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels to assess heart disease risk by detecting potential artery blockages. This test, measuring LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, helps doctors manage cardiovascular health through lifestyle and treatment recommendations.

Lipid Profile Test

Preview: The Lp(a) test measures a cholesterol-carrying lipoprotein in the blood to assess heart disease risk, as elevated levels indicate increased danger.

LP(a) Test

Preview: LDL cholesterol, a fat and protein combination measured every five years for adults, is considered “bad” because high levels can build up in arteries, increasing heart disease risk, and is typically tested alongside other cholesterol markers to determine a patient’s cardiovascular health.

LDL Cholesterol Test

Preview: The HDL test measures “good” cholesterol, which helps remove harmful fats from the bloodstream, reducing heart disease risk. Regular HDL testing is recommended for individuals with increased cardiac risk to monitor and maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

HDL Cholesterol Test

Preview: The CRP test measures liver-produced C-reactive protein, indicating inflammation from infections, autoimmune diseases, or cardiovascular risk, by detecting elevated levels associated with artery damage. This test is crucial for assessing inflammation, predicting heart disease risk, and diagnosing chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, aiding in informed patient care and treatment decisions.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test

Preview: The CK-MB test measures creatine kinase, specifically the CK-MB isozyme, which is primarily found in the heart and released into the bloodstream during cardiac muscle damage, aiding in the diagnosis of heart attacks. Elevated CK-MB levels, above 24 U/L, indicate significant heart injury, while normal CK values vary by gender.

CK-MB Test