Date:18/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/18/stories/2006091803840500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Many heart patients have block in carotid artery

S. Rajendran

Nearly 40 per cent of such patients are from poor sections of society

SUCCESSFUL SURGERY: C.N. Manjunath (second from left), cardiologist and director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology; A.M. Jagadeesh, anaesthesiologist; and Kumsi Sridhar, cardiac surgeon (right), with patient Chandrashekar Moolimani.

BANGALORE: Cardiologists at the Government-run Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology here have come across a new phenomenon in the State. A large number of heart patients also have a block in the carotid artery, which carries blood to the brain.

In every 100 persons with a block in the coronary artery, 30 had a block in the carotid artery. In such cases, a coronary bypass surgery alone would not be enough. The patient has to undergo a bypass surgery of the coronary and carotid arteries simultaneously. Nearly 40 per cent of such patients are from the poorer sections — workers, farm labourers and the like.

Director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology C.N. Manjunath, who is also president of the Indian College of Cardiology, told The Hindu here that although cardiologists across the country had referred to this trend, the phenomenon was not much evident in the State.

Subjecting heart patients from the poorer sections to angiogram before deciding on the course of treatment had possibly led to the understanding on blocks in the arteries carrying blood to the heart and the brain.

For the first time, specialists at the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology conducted a dual and simultaneous surgery of the coronary and carotid arteries on Sunday. Chandrashekar Moolimani (55), a native of Belgaum, had undergone an angiogram in Maharashtra, and was diagnosed with triple vessel block. Further investigation at the Jayadeva institute indicated there was also a block in the carotid artery. The successful surgery was conducted by cardiac surgeon Kumsi Sridhar; vascular surgeon Vivekananda, and cardiac anaesthesiologist A.M. Jagadeesh under the guidance of Dr. Manjunath.

Dr. Manjunath said that the angiogram procedure for all heart patients would now encompass the carotid artery (brain) as a matter of standard protocol. While the dual procedure would cost around Rs. 2 lakh in a private hospital, the Jayadeva Institute charged the patient only Rs. 60,000.

There has been a 40 per cent increase in the number of patients admitted at the institute this year compared to the corresponding period last year. The institute conducts 50 angiograms a day, which is considered a national record apart from 100 open heart surgeries and 100 angioplasties every month.

Following the good work turned out at the institute, patients can now seek assistance from the Prime Minister's Medical Relief Fund and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The Prime Minister's office recently extended this facility to poor patients seeking treatment at the institute.