First core lab in India opened in city

Speaking to reporters, Dr K Sivakumar, head of Paediatric Cardiology said that the facility was first of its kind in the country, making valve treatment easy for both doctors and patients.

“The core lab is the place where the images from CT scan, echocardiograms and other modes of imaging are scientifically studied to ensure the correct valve size and techniques of implantations in just an hour,” said Dr Ajit Mullasari, director(cardiology).

The transcatheter valve therapy has been established in India and worldwide as a non-surgical method of treating patients with valvular heart disease. This therapy, till now used for patients at high risk for surgery, is now being used for intermediate and low-risk patients, too.

The pulmonary valve implantation has evolved as a viable, safe, less morbid procedure of implanting a valve made from xenograft pericardial tissue into the pulmonary position. “Among the four cardiac valves, pulmonary valves commonly come in children. In India, there were 47 implantations in pulmonary valves, of which MMM has been the leader. The public should have awareness in this issue and in future it may be affordable,” said Dr Sivakumar.

At Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, the valves made in other countries are expensive. The cost of valves made in India has come down in the recent days to Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.