Thrissur General Hospital completes 4,000 heart surgeries

The General Hospital here reached a milestone by completing 4,000 heart surgeries in just three-and-a-half years since the setting up of its Cath Lab in 2022. The hospital’s cardiology department became the second government general hospital in Kerala, after the Ernakulam General Hospital, to successfully perform the highly advanced Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure.

The breakthrough surgery was performed on Madhavan, a 68-year-old patient from Kombazha tribal hamlet, who was admitted with severe breathing difficulty and chest pain. Detailed investigations revealed critical narrowing of the aortic valve. After obtaining mandatory approvals, the patient was prepared for the procedure.

Led by interventional cardiologist Shafeeq Mattummal, a team comprising cardiologists Vivek Thomas and Krishnakumar, along with cardiac surgeons, anaesthetists, and Cath Lab staff, successfully implanted the new valve. The complex two-and-a-half-hour keyhole procedure, which usually costs around ₹14 lakh, was provided for free through tribal health funds.

Post-surgery, the patient was shifted to the CCU, where he later underwent a pacemaker procedure. Doctors confirmed that he was recovering well without complications.

The Cath Lab team now plans to continue expanding advanced cardiac interventions, further strengthening the hospital’s role as a leading hub of affordable cardiac care.