Cardiothoracic surgeons of Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TVMCH) and their team have given a new lease of life to a 58-year-old woman, who was suffering from breathing problem caused by a tumour in the heart.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Dean, TVMCH, S. M. Kannan, said patient V. Gnanaselvam of Ambasamudram, who was undergoing treatment in a private hospital near her house for three months for breathing problem, was brought to the TVMCH on December 14 last after the problem worsened.
A radiological investigation showed that a tumour in the heart had reduced the functioning of the vital organ which resulted in breathing problem.
Surgical procedure was done on December 26 to remove the 4.20 cm X 3.80 cm sized mass, weighing about 100 grams.
Head, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, TVMCH, Marwin Manova Baylis, his colleague Arul Vijaykumar and anaesthetist R. Amutharani successfully performed the surgery that took three hours.
“Since the TVMCH has got heart – lung machine, the surgery could be performed successfully. Removing the critically located tumour between the artery was a challenging surgical procedure which has been conducted at TVMCH for the first time,” said Dr. Kannan adding that the patient’s post-surgical recovery was uneventful.
This complicated surgery, which would have cost the patient ₹5 lakh in a private hospital, was conducted free of cost under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.
The team that has performed 11 open heart surgeries in the past one year also recently saved 14-year-old Kasirajan, a Class VI student from Thenthirupperai near Srivaikundam, who was suffering from atrial septal defect through pericardial patch closure that was required for closing the 4 cm-wide defect.
“We’re making efforts to conduct heart bypass surgeries at TVMCH for which we’re in need of ₹6 lakh-worth equipment. As it is likely to be supplied in the near future, the TVMCH will then perform heart bypass surgeries too,” Dr. Kannan said.
On the Medical Council of India’s recent inspection for increasing the MBBS seats from the existing 150 to 250, the Dean said the State Government had augmented the infrastructure facilities in TVMCH in this direction at a cost of ₹120 crore over the years and hence positive results could be expected.
Multi-speciality hospital
When asked about the possibilities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurating the multi-speciality hospital of the TVMCH through videoconference when he visits Madurai on January 27, Dr. Kannan said there was no official communication in this connection so far.
“More than 90% of the work in the multi-speciality hospital, armed with most-modern diagnostic and surgical equipment, has been completed and hence the out-patient section can be opened immediately,” the Dean informed.
Deputy Dean, TVMCH, Revathi Balan and Medical Superintendent Ravichandran were also present at the meet.