Among J&K’s newly set up medical colleges, GMC Anantnag first one to start Cath Lab soon

Anantnag, Feb 12: In a major relief for cardiac patients across south Kashmir, the Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag is set to commence operations of its Cath Lab from next month.

Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Principal and Dean of GMC Anantnag, Dr Rukhsana Najeeb, said that the Cath Lab will be fully functional in the first week of March.

A meeting on Cath Lab services at GMC Anantnag conducted recently appointed Dr Syed Maqbool, Assistant Professor of Cardiology, as the in-charge of the Cardiology specialty at the associated hospital, Mirza Afzal Beg Memorial (MABM), for enhanced patient care.

An official said that part of the surgical casualty section of the associated hospital will be utilised for cardiology-related procedures.

"A requisition for manpower and other requirements to efficiently run the cardiology specialty will be submitted by the In-charge of Cardiology for timely processing," the official said.

He said that the medical college has received a turnkey Cath Lab system worth Rs 20 crore.

The cardiac catheterization laboratory, commonly known as a Cath Lab, is a specialized unit where doctors conduct minimally invasive tests and advanced cardiac procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases.

Although the cardiology unit at GMC Anantnag has been functional, the absence of a Cath Lab forced doctors to refer patients whether suffering from minor or major heart attacks to Srinagar.

The first hour after a heart attack, known as the "golden hour," is crucial for saving lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 47 per cent of cardiac-related deaths occur due to sudden cardiac arrests before patients reach a hospital.

Timely intervention within this golden hour, through appropriate tests and procedures, significantly increases survival rates. Doctors said that the establishment of a Cath Lab at GMC Anantnag will save many lives, as patients from the four southern districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, and Shopian will no longer have to undertake long journeys to Srinagar, losing precious time. The facility will also help reduce the burden on Srinagar’s hospitals.

GMC Anantnag will be the first among the eight new medical colleges in Jammu & Kashmir to introduce a Cath Lab service for its patients.

Officials said that the institution has improved its surgical and cardiac care services and is planning several other upgrades to provide better healthcare to the region.

“With a highly competent team of cardiologists- Dr Shameem Iqbal, Dr Showkat Shah and Dr Syed Maqbool and the new Cath Lab, patients will no longer need to be referred to Srinagar,” said Dr Najeeb. Currently, Kashmir has two Cath Labs—one at SKIMS Soura and another at SMHS- GMC Srinagar. With this addition, GMC Anantnag will become the third center in the valley to offer Cath Lab services.

Dr Showkat Shah, an interventional cardiologist at GMC Anantnag, said that the facility is significant as it will facilitate various diagnostic and interventional procedures.

He said that the key procedures at the Cath Lab are Coronary angiography, utilizing X-ray imaging to detect blockages or narrowing in arteries that may lead to heart disease.

“Right heart catheterization wherein we measure pressures within the heart chambers and lungs to diagnose conditions like heart failure or pulmonary hypertension will also be conducted,” Dr Shah said. He said that besides angioplasty and stent placement will be done using a balloon-tipped catheter to open blocked arteries, often followed by stent placement to maintain blood flow. “Heart valve repair or replacement will be possible by treating certain heart valve diseases using catheter-based techniques as alternatives to open-heart surgery,” Dr Shah said.

He said that electrophysiology studies and ablation procedures will also be possible by correcting abnormal heart rhythms using energy delivered through catheters. “Pacemaker and implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) placement will be done by implanting devices to help regulate or correct heart rhythms,” said Shah.

He said that these advancements will transform cardiac care in South Kashmir, providing timely and life-saving interventions closer to home.