Bir Hospital resumes open heart surgery

REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, March 17: Bir Hospital has resumed open heart surgery this week. The service was halted four years ago.

A patient from Jumla underwent the first open heart surgery after the resumption of the service. Cardiologists at the hospital removed a tumor from the patient´s heart.

“We provided the service to the patient from Jumla almost free of cost,” Dr Damodar Pokhrel, vice-chancellor of the National Academy of Medical Science (NAMS), said.
The hospital had stopped open heart surgeries after the only anesthetic doctor at the cardiac unit was injured in an accident.

“Now patients will not have to go to other hospitals for heart surgery,” director of the hospital Dr Bulanda Thapa said. Before resumption of the service, heart patients from far flung villages who arrived at Bir Hospital hoping to get treatment were compelled to go to other hospitals.

Director Thapa said the hospital will also resume Angiography, Pace Maker and catheterization laboratory (CATH LAB) services soon. “We have called engineers from Delhi to repair dysfunctional machines of the department. They will arrive on Thursday,” Dr Thapa said.

Twenty years ago, the hospital had advanced facilities in the cardiology department.

“I conducted the first open heart surgery of the country at Bir Hospital. The service will now be regular,” VC Pokhrel said adding that the hospital will also provide free valve replacement surgery to children below 15 and elderly above 75 years.

According to the hospital, a new patient seeking open heart surgery and valve replacement service will have to wait for seven months.

Dr Pokhrel also said NAMS will start MCH cardiac course soon.

The NAMS has recently started the Doctorate in Medicine (DM) course in cardiology, considered a top degree in medical sciences.

According to the hospital administration, more than 70 patients with heart related ailments visit the OPD of the hospital every day.