Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals Delhi, India

Founded in 1996 (January), and recognized as one of the major cardiothoracic surgery units of North India, this division has contributed over 20,000 cardiac surgeries encompassing the entire spectrum of surgical treatment of heart diseases, be it coronary artery bypass, intracardiac repairs of congenital heart defects, valvular heart disease or aortic aneurysm repairs.

What sets this department apart is the excellent post-operative intensive care which turns out world class success rates. The overall success rate of the surgeries performed so far is over 98% which includes emergency procedures, complex repairs of congenital defects and complicated aneurysm repairs, in addition to large number of coronary artery bypass, valve replacements and simpler congenital defects.

Services

Cardiac Surgery Consultants and Cardiac Anaesthesia Consultant are available round the clock. Three fully functional operating suites equipped with L. F. airconditioning shadowless operating lights, electronic cardiac tables, heart lung machines and accessories, infusion pumps, multichannel monitors, defibrillators and advanced micro vascular instruments; guarantee the best cardiac surgical treatment to the patient at par with international standards. The division extends its services to significant number of international patients. A substantial number of patients from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sri Lanka have availed of our services in addition to a few from USA, UK and Europe. A 23 bed dedicated and fully equipped intensive care (adjacent to the operating units) provides 1:1 nursing care by specially trained nurse’s day & night. While the Intensive care is being actually attended by Registrars and residents, what sets Apollo CTVS ICU apart from other is the supervisory vigil kept by the dedicated team of anesthesiologists.

Spectrum of Services Offered

 

A. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: The department was one of the pioneers of beating heart surgeries in 1999 and since 2000; this method continues to be the procedure of choice of surgical revascularisation of coronary artery disease.

Even though, this procedure does not require cardiopulmonary bypass, all the three operating suites are equipped with heart lung machine and Intra-aortic balloon pumps. The homolougus blood transfusions are minimal and can be avoided totally in large number of cases when cell saver is used.

In addition to primary CABGs, the centre is known for its proficiency in REDO CABG and combined procedures like AVR + CABG, MVR + CABG and carotid endarectomy. The internal mammary arteries (Left/Right/Bilateral) are the most preferred conduits for CABG except Bilateral IMA is avoided in insulin dependent in diabetics.

The radial artery is the next best conduit. Aorto coronary by-pass is the usual mode of surgical revescularisation, but LIMA – RIMA Y graft is often used in younger patients for Total Arterial Revascularisation.

Acute and urgent surgical intervention maybe required to treat acute coronary syndrome complicated by left main stenosis, Post infarction VSD, Impending Cardiac Rupture or Acute Mitral Regurgitation and the unit gears up 24/7 to envisage these lifesaving operations with good outcomes.

Valuable adjuncts like a large number of ventilators and Intracardiac balloon pumps help in salvaging these very sick patients. Redo CABG are readily accepted and large numbers have been carried out with 95% success.

B. Valve Surgery: All valve surgeries are undertaken with confidence and both repairs and replacements are done with good outcomes. Both Prosthetic (metallic) valve substitutes and Bio-prosthetic (tissue) valve substitutes are available. The surgeons are fairly experienced in carrying out valves repairs whenever possible and endeavor to preserve the subvalvar apparatus during mitral valve replacements. Intra –operative Transesophagial echocardiography is available whenever needed. 

C. Aneurysm Surgery: Aortic aneurysms are handled with confidence. Elective and Emergency surgeries are undertaken to take care of aortic dissections day or night. A number of aortic root replacements (Bentall operations) have been done with 90-95% success. 

D. Congenital Heart Defects: The entire gamut of congenital heart defects are accepted for repairs. Neonatal arterial switch operations for Transposition are done regularly. Other intra cardiac palliative and corrective surgeries are offered for complex congenital defects. Epicardial chocardiography is available for assessing efficiency of procedures carried out. 

E. Thoracic Surgery: All thoracic surgical procedures like lung resections decortications, volume reduction surgery are undertaken by dedicated team of Thoracic Surgeons. VATS (Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) is also available. 

F. Vascular Surgery: Peripheral vascular disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm and carotid artery disease are appropriately handled by dedicated surgeons when indicated.