GMC Anantnag writes history, performs first CRT-P in J&K

Srinagar, Aug 17: History was written on Saturday after the first Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Pacemaker (CRT-P) was successfully implanted in Jammu and Kashmir.

This milestone was achieved by the Department of General Medicine's Cardiology section at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag.

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 procedure was carried out using C-arm fluoroscopy, marking a significant advancement in the region's healthcare capabilities, said an official spokesperson.

Principal GMC Anantnag, Dr. Rukhsana Najeeb, told Greater Kashmir that the costly CRT-P device was provided free of cost to the patient under Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

She said that the Cardiac Cath Lab is expected to be functional by the end of next month which will be a major milestone for the institution.

The landmark procedure was performed by a team of cardiologists, including Dr. Syed Maqbool, Dr. Shamim Iqbal, and Dr. Showkat Shah with the vital support of the technical staff.