Docs at Arunachal’s lone medical college do rare heart surgery

The entire staff, especially the doctors of the lone medical college of Arunachal Pradesh – the Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences – was delighted as they added another feather to their cap.

TRIHMS located in Naharlagun town of Papum Pare district was set up in 2017 with the academic session commencing on 2018-19. Having created several records, the cardiology department of the college which was also set up in 2017 has now implanted a “3 tesla MRI compatible dual chamber Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator or AICD in a 37-year-old woman.” The implantation of the AICD is the first of its kind in Arunachal Pradesh and is a triumph for the cardiology department and TRIHMS as a whole.

This procedure will help in primary prevention of cardiac arrest in the patient as she suffers from cardiac sarcoidosis, a rare heart condition where tiny collections of immune cells form granulomas to interfere with normal functioning of the organ and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, a condition in which the ventricle become stiffer.

The team which performed the implant was led by Dr. Rinchin Dorjee Megeji, cardiologist and included Dr. Tony Ete, Nilutpal Goswami, Cath lab technician and Joram Moni, OT Nursing Officer.

Sharing details with the media, Dr. Megeji, said, the patient was advised to undergo the same treatment by another hospital in Chennai. When she came to know that the operation can be performed in her own State, incurring lesser expense while allowing her to get care of her family, she decided to opt for TRIHMS.

This team has already made a record of sorts by implanting more than 70 permanent pacemakers. They lauded the patient and her family members, anaesthesiology head of department, OT in charge and Director and Chief Medical Superintendent of TRIHMS and the State Government for backing them and providing high tech equipment.

The team was thrilled with their efforts and wanted to send a message that the State is not lagging behind in providing excellent healthcare at reasonable cost to people.