Srinagar, Apr 30: With the launch of a state-of-the-art cath lab at GMC Anantnag, patients from south Kashmir have got a new lease of life. In the first 20 days of the installation of the cath lab, 171 procedures have been performed, improving cardiac care access and emergency treatment facilities in the area.
The Department of Cardiology at GMC Anantnag began performing procedures in the cath lab on April 11, 2025. The lab was installed and made operational earlier this year.
Officials said the much-awaited facility in south Kashmir has handled numerous cardiac emergencies including heart attacks, heart blocks, arrhythmias, and cardiac tamponades—right from its first day of operation.
An official said that within just 20 days, the department successfully performed 177 procedures, including 101 coronary angiographies, 58 PTCA/stenting, 12 pacemaker implantations, 3 LBBA pacings, 2 CRTPs, and 2 cardiac tamponade drainages.
The medical college official said the cardiologists at the department worked till late evenings to cope up with the rush of cardiac emergencies.
“Of the 58 angioplasties, 26 were primary angioplasty done in patients with acute heart attack, who were immediately taken to cath lab soon upon their arrival,” they said.
As per officials, the patients included a tourist who survived the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 but had suffered a massive heart attack. The tourist was immediately taken to the cath lab, where his primary angioplasty was done and he was later discharged.
Since the start of the cath lab facility, 15 patients with complete heart block have received pacemakers.
Dr Syed Maqbool, Head Department of Cardiology, said the facility receives patients from south Kashmir and areas like Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Banihal, and even proper Jammu town.
“There was no mortality, and all patients went home in excellent condition,” he said.
Dr Maqbool appealed to authorities to depute more cardiologists to GMC as patient flow is going to increase exponentially and current strength of cardiologists is too low to deal with.
Dr Maqbool thanked the principal GMC Anantnag, Prof. Dr Rukhsana Najeeb, for her overwhelming support to the department, and said that this herculean task would have been impossible without her help.
Notably, GMC Anantnag is the only peripheral medical college in India and among the eight new medical colleges in J & K, that has the cath lab service for its patients.
