North Karnataka is witnessing an increase in trend of cardio-vascular disease, there is an urgent need to stem the disease rather than to treat opined Dr. Richard Saldanha, Chief Cardiac Surgeon of KLES Dr. Prabhakar kore Hospital, Belgaum. He was delivering prestigious Dr. V S Metgud oration on the occasion of IMA annual Continuing Medical Education (CME) on 23rd July, 2022 at Sankam Residency. He called on the medical fraternity, research in the direction to find out the causes for burgeoning increase in coronary artery disease is needed. He highlighted that, 6 heart transplants were performed since 2018 and 3 heart transplants were done in July 2022 alone, all are in the young & productive group of 18-35 years. He emphasized that, Post-transplant an individual can lead a normal & active life.
Dr. Richard highlighted excessive consumption of tobacco products, sedentary lifestyle, early onset of diabetes, stress and genetic factors are the lead cause for increase in incidence of Cardio-vascular disease. The cardiac surgery is evolving science and KLES Cardio thoracic team is abreast with latest skills, technology, infrastructure and has moved from open heart surgery of long incision to partial sternotomy to Minimum Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS). Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), Valvular cases and closure of ASD are routinely performed through MICS procedure.
Performing heart transplant is a big challenge involving a team of Transplant coordinators, Brain death declaration team, organ maintenance team (intensivist), anaesthetists, surgical team, police officials. The entire process of transplantation is monitored by Jeevsarthakathe and MOHAN foundation supports is smooth functioning of transplant activities.
In his presentation Dr. Richard displayed the medical & surgical management of Peripheral Vascular Disease, shared the experiences of surgical management of Pulmonary Thrombus embolectomy & lung surgery cases.
The KLES Cardiac surgery team is geared up to start lung transplant program and will venture into robotic surgeries concluded Dr. Saldanha.
Dr. B H Metgud, Dr. Vanita Metgud, Rajeswhawri Anagol, Dr. Santosh Sindhe, Dr. Neeta Deshpande, Dr. Basavaraj Bijjargi & other IMA members felicitated Dr. Richard Saldanha for enriching medical science and for initiating transplant program in Belgaum.
Senior medical fraternity Dr. Bandopant Shravage, Dr. (Ms) Kotwal, Dr. K N Hulikatti were also felicitated on the occasion. Large number of IMA members were present on the occasion.
