Cardiology dept Super-speciality Hospital, GMC Sgr marks a decade of exceptional growth, academic excellence RK Ser

Srinagar, Aug 03: The Cardiology Department Supers-speciality Hospital, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, has Shown a remarkable growth, procedural innovation, academic advancement, and public trust. From humble beginnings, the department has evolved into a nationally recognized centre of excellence in patient care, training, and research.A statement issued here said that from just 100 coronary angiographies in 2012, the department has scaled up to 2,008 procedures in 2024, with 720 already performed in the first four months of 2025. Coronary angioplasties have also surged—from 25 in 2012 to 1,422 in 2024—a reflection of both rising patient volume and procedural expertise. Device-based cardiac therapies have grown exponentially. Permanent pacemaker implantations increased from 10 in 2012 to 422 in 2024. The department also routinely performs implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) insertions, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantations, temporary pacemaker (TPM) placements, and left bundle branch pacing (LBBP). Notably, over 400 temporary pacemaker procedures were performed in 2024 alone, underscoring the robustness of the department’s emergency protocols. The department has developed a 24×7 Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) program for the emergency management of acute myocardial infarction (MI). With door-to-balloon times that rival global standards, the program has saved thousands of lives—especially among economically disadvantaged populations. A pioneer in cardiac electrophysiology in the region, the department now routinely performs both conventional and 3D electroanatomical mapping-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures, including atrial fibrillation (AF) ablations. These advancements have made the department a regional referral center for complex arrhythmia management. The interventional team has successfully adopted advanced modalities such as image-guided complex PCI, orbital atherectomy for heavily calcified coronary lesions, and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Additionally, the department performs a wide range of structural and congenital heart interventions, including percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC), atrial and ventricular septal defect (ASD/VSD) closures, and coarctation of the aorta (COA) interventions. Outpatient visits rose to 27,332 in 2023, and inpatient admissions have more than quadrupled since 2018. These figures reflect the department’s growing reputation as a high-volume, high-trust referral center for comprehensive cardiac care in the region.