Jagjivan Ram hospital of WR achieve another milestone in medical science

Successfully performs Trans Catheter Aortic Valve Intervention/Replacement procedure

Western Railway’s Jagjivanram Hospital has successfully managed various complicated and extremely difficult cases with high mortality and morbidity.

On 11th December, 2019 for the first time a railway beneficiary in the country underwent one of the most advanced and technically challenged method of replacement of a diseased valve.

By carrying out this tough procedure, Jagjivanram Hospital of Western Railway became the first and the only medical facility over Indian Railways to carry out such a procedure.

According to a press release issued by WR CPRO Ravinder Bhakar, the said patient Ganpat Lal Sharma (83 yrs) is a retired Accounts Officer from Ajmer had been suffering from severe chest pain and breathlessness on exertion along with multiple episodes of syncopal attack in the last three years.

Upon investigation at a local hospital he was diagnosed as severely calcified aortic valve stenosis, referred to Jagjivanram Hospital for further needful at an early date.

Sharma was initially evaluated by Dr. Shishir Kumar Roul, interventional cardiologist and an isolated critical symptomatic aortic stenosis was diagnosed after excluding coronary artery disease (coronary angiography was normal).

The cardiac surgeon’s opinion was against the traditional mode of replacement of valve as it was a high risk case and was contraindicated for replacement of valve by surgery.

Bhakar further stated that Trans catheter Aortic Valve intervention/Replacement (TAVI/TAVR) is an alternatively way of replacement of valve in such cases, which is most advanced, updated and technically challenging procedure.

By the above procedure, an open heart surgery is avoided and valve is replaced only through a puncture in the groin avoiding all the complications related to surgery and the patient can be discharged and can resume work early. Only a few patients in the country have undergone such an intervention successfully so far.

Suitability of Sharma’s candidature was established by all the necessary investigations and later taken for this rare intervention which happened on 11th December, 2019.

After making all necessaries arrangements available to deal all the complications and under the surgical backup, TAVR was conducted at JRH successfully by cardiologists, cardiac anaesthesiologist consists of Dr. Ravindra Rao, Dr. MV Reddy, Dr. Shishir Kumar Roul, Dr. OM and Dr. Charu and team under valuable guidance of Dr. Ghanashyam Sahoo – Principal Chief Medical Director of Western Railway and Dr. Hafeezunnisa – Medical Director of Jagjivanram Hospital.

Sharma was asymptomatic with all post-surgery parameters satisfactory and he was discharged on 16th December, 2019 with an advice for follow up.