04-06-2025
Patient undergoes complex triple vessel disease bypass surgery at Tiruchi government hospital
Doctors at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) in Tiruchi successfully performed a triple vessel bypass surgery on a 56-year-old patient from Kumbakonam this week.
At a press meeting on Wednesday, cardio-thoracic surgeon Ashwini, who led the surgery, said the patient had been referred to the hospital with breathing difficulty caused by a previous cardiac arrest. 'The angiogram revealed that the patient was suffering from triple vessel disease, a severe form of coronary artery disease, where all three main coronary arteries of the heart are significantly blocked.'
The bypass procedure created a link from the internal mammary vein to the saphenous veins in the lower leg that help return blood from the lower extremities to the heart in a four-hour long operation performed last week.
The surgery was carried out as per the norms of the National Health Mission.
'The beating heart operation was carried out after assessing the patient's ability to withstand the surgery. He was extubated on the same day, and was rehabilitated successfully post-surgery as a result of the hospital's team of medical experts,' said Dr. Ashwini.
S. Kumaravel, dean, K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College, MGMGH, said the complex cardiac procedure was carried out at the hospital for the first time and would be offered to other patients, based on their physical fitness. Earlier, a surgery for double vessel disease had been carried out at MGMGH in 2022.
COVID preparedness
Dr. Kumaravel added that MGMGH had established a 10-bed special ward to treat patients who tested positive for COVID. 'At present, we do not have fresh cases reported in Tiruchi, though some patients with co-morbidities have tested positive while undergoing treatment for other ailments.'
From June 1, the hospital had introduced a same day turnaround for obtaining in-patient results of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests. 'This was done based on the recommendation of the Consumers Council members of Tiruchi district. It will help us to serve the public better by increasing the number of MRI tests per day,' Dr. Kumaravel said.
In super-specialisation, a neuro-uro department had been established at the hospital to treat conditions where the nervous system affected the urinary tract and bowel function. 'We are also trying to reduce the infant mortality rate in the district by promoting anomaly scans among pregnant women in the blocks of Marungapuri and Uppilyapuram. Mammograms are being offered to the women staff of the hospital,' said Dr. Kumaravel.
