GMC Srinagar’s Cardiology Department saving lives

Srinagar, Aug 3: The Cardiology Department of Government Medical College Srinagar has come-up as a major center for high-end cardiac procedures in Kashmir.

The department carried out 2,008 procedures in 2024, and scaled up to 720 procedures in just the first four months of 2025. In 2012, just 100 coronary angiographies were carried out at the center.

In a statement, GMC's Cardiology Department said the Center has also achieved success in angioplasties. "From just 25 in 2012 to 1,422 in 2024, the high volumes reflect 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."

It said the department has developed a 24x7 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.

"Not just for interventions, the department has become the cornerstone of cardiac consultations and care. The outpatient visits rose to 27,332 in 2023, and inpatient admissions have more than quadrupled since 2018."

In a healthcare landscape where advanced cardiac interventions are often inaccessible due to cost, the department has broken barriers by offering all procedures completely free of charge under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme. Whether it is a complex angioplasty, a pacemaker, or an AF ablation, financial constraints never stand between patients and lifesaving treatment.

The Department of Cardiology runs Postdoctoral Cardiology Training Program (DrNB ) Cardiology and has applied for DM Cardiology.