Anantnag, Aug 17, 2024: In a groundbreaking medical achievement, the Cardiology section of the Department of General Medicine at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag successfully performed the first-ever Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Pacemaker (CRT-P) implantation under C-arm fluoroscopy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The milestone marks a new chapter in the region’s medical history, the hospital said in a press release.
According to the statement, the procedure was carried out on a 50-year-old female patient diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) with an ejection fraction (EF) of 20% and a Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB) with a QRS duration of 170 milliseconds. The CRT-P implantation was completed successfully, resulting in a remarkable narrowing of the QRS duration to 110 milliseconds, indicating an effective response to the therapy.
The historic procedure was performed by a team of cardiologists, including Dr Syed Maqbool, Dr Shamim Iqbal and Dr Showkat Shah, with essential support from the technical staff.
The procedure, typically conducted in a Cath lab, was carried out under C-arm fluoroscopy due to the ongoing installation of a Cath lab at GMC Anantnag. This pioneering effort marks the first instance of a CRT-P implantation being performed under C-arm guidance in Jammu and Kashmir, the hospital said. “This complex procedure’s success would not have been possible without the unwavering support and leadership of Prof Dr Rukhsana Najeeb, Principal of GMC Anantnag. Her dedication to advancing healthcare services at the institution has been instrumental in enabling such sophisticated medical procedures at GMC Anantnag.”
Special recognition is also extended to the former Medical Superintendent, Muzaffar Sherwani and the dedicated OT staff, whose collective efforts ensured the smooth and successful completion of the procedure, the GMC said, adding that their support was crucial in overcoming the challenges posed by the absence of a fully operational Cath lab.
