Digitization and advanced technology usher in transformation in cardiac care in India: experts

Mumbai, October 27, 2022:

Technological developments, including telemedicine, wearable gadgets for early detection, and the application of robots and artificial intelligence in machine learning, have revolutionized cardiac care in India in the face of rising cases of cardiovascular disorders, including heart disease and stroke which cause 17.7 million deaths in India, said experts.

“In terms of digitization, the advancement that has been seen is the usage of artificial intelligence in predictive disease patterns. During Covid-19 pandemic, virtual consultation gained traction in the country which not only provided patients with a faster solution, but also saved them the trouble of travelling to the hospital. Besides this, the major technological aspects that have made surgical healthcare easy and comfortable for patients in the last decade are the use of endoscopic technology, especially 3D endoscopy robotics, and the advent of 3D printers. Though 3D endoscopy and robotics have already been introduced clinically largely, 3D printers are still in nascent stage and have yet to be implemented in full. 3D endoscopy is revolutionary for all kinds of surgeries, such as cancer surgery, cardiac surgery, lung surgery, and general surgery,” said Dr. Mohammed RehanSayeed, senior consultant-cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, heart transplant surgery, robotic cardiac surgery, Manipal Hospital, Yeshwanthpur.
 
Furthermore, in the last decade, robotic technology has become the go to procedure for cardiac surgeons, especially for mitral valve surgery and ASD closures. In recent years we have started using robots to harvest conduits for bypass surgery of CABG as it is popularly known. This makes the incision small and with no stretch on the chest wall and no cutting of the bones, the operation fraught with fear is now made less painful, more accurate, and less feared, stated Dr Sayeed.
 
“Through a small 8 mm port this process can be performed, whereas in traditional surgery to perform any cardiac surgery, cutting the entire chest bone is needed. With the help of the high-definition camera attached to the robot, it is easy to visualize the inside condition of the patient, which increases the precision of the operation. Through this technology, the entire spectrum of cardiac surgery is possible with safety and good results. Being less painful, it allows easy recovery of the patient at a much faster rate. The average hospital stay for a robotic CABG patient is 72 hours compared to 9 days in the case of a traditional method,” he opined.
 
On the other hand, 3D printing mainly helps in producing new organs which can complement the original organs, such as the liver, pancreas, etc. With the help of tissue engineers, the making of new tissues has also been tried to develop in regards to benefit medical management. Though this technology is still on trial, it is expected that soon it will be implemented in real-life cases, added senior cardiac surgeon.PharmaBiz