3-D heart mapping facility at MMM

CHENNAI: A state-of-the-art 3-D imaging system for successful treatment of cases of Arrhythmia has been introduced at the Madras Medical Mission here.

The system, which has been procured at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, is one of the most advanced technologies to help cardiologists understand the anatomy of interior parts of the heart and what leads to heart ailments, said Ulhas M Pandurangi, senior consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist, MMM.

The 3-D imaging is more effective than the conventional therapy as it does not just gives an electrical picture of the heart, but also an anatomical picture, he said.

Arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats at an abnormal rate, unusually slow or fast. While 60-90 is the normal pulse rate, either 120 or above or lower than 50, reflect conditions of Arrhythmia. Nearly 30 per cent of the heart patients who have reduced pumping will have the problem of an irregular beat.

Dr Ulhas stressed the need to include ablation therapy for cardiac arrhythmia in the government-sponsored insurance scheme. “There are at least 10 centres in Tamil Nadu which are doing the therapies and it is high time that ablation therapy be included under the scheme,” he said.

Dr Ajit Mullaseri, Director, Cardiology, MMM, pointed out that the treatment would be on the spot, without creating any scar on the patient. The delivery of the radio- frequency current would also be on the spot.

Professor of Cardiology, University of California, San Fransico, Dr Nitish Badhwar, pointed out the need for such a technology in India was more so because of the high number of heart patients.

The Arrhythmia Heart Failure Academy is currently having its three-day second annual conference on “Arrhythmia heart failure” which began on Friday.