Cardiologists from all over India assemble at Meenakshi Mission Hospital for training in advanced heart imaging using OCT
A two-day training for doctors from various places in the use of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and fractional flow reserve (FFR), two cutting-edge heart imaging techniques, began at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre on Friday. The participants are trained by Giulio Guagliumi, a doctor from the Cardiovascular Department of Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, a hospital in Italy, who, MMHRC said, is an internationally-recognized pioneer on the use of these techniques. Addressing journalists here, Dr. Guagliumi said that the techniques, which offered a three-dimensional view inside blood vessels, helped in providing precise treatment for heart ailments, particularly coronary artery disease.
Selvamani, senior consultant, MMHRC, said that more than 300 patients had been successfully treated through the OCT integrated catheterization lab (Cath lab) functioning in the hospital for the past few months. R. Sivakumar, senior consultant, MMHRC, said that the techniques helped in identifying the best possible treatment for the patients since the precise type of the blockage could be seen, which is not possible in the widely used two-dimensional coronary angioplasty. M. Sampath Kumar, senior consultant, MMHRC, said that the possibility of recurrence of blockages is considerably low when treatment is provided through OCT and FFR techniques because of the precise nature and effectiveness of the treatment offered. N. Ganesan, senior consultant, MMHRC, said that MMHRC was evolving as a centre of excellence on the use of OCT and FFR not only in India but in the entire Asia-Pacific region.
SOURCE: THE TIMES OF INDIA
DATE: 15.12.18
