Echocardiography (ECG), has been assisting cardiologist in India for a long time to diagnose problem related to the heart and based on the analysis surgery was carried out in patients suffering from heart ailment. However, a minimally invasive technique involving ECG in a better way, is helping surgeons across the world to carry out their work with precision.
With the advent of technology, a decade back Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) was introduced, creating a revolution in cardiac surgery. TEE, is a technique which uses sound waves to image the heart. The heart can be viewed from in front of the chest as well as from behind using an ultrasound probe placed in the esophagus (the food pipe).
Dr GD Puri of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education puts it, “This technique offers high quality images and can provide important information even as the surgeon is operating on the heart. We have been leading the way in advancing the cardiac care provided in India.”
If it is not enough to provide a patient with good gut feeling, the other aspect of this technology might enlighten ones mind. After the introduction of this technique, around 11.54 per cent patient at the Advanced Cardiac Centre at PGI got successful cardiac treatment after the surgical plan was changed just before the surgery after viewing the images acquired through TEE technology.
Housed in a modern building, the centre has been acquiring the latest equipment including the recent purchase of a high end 3-dimensional echocardiography system for exclusive use in the operation theatres. It has also started a postdoctoral course (DM) in cardiac anaesthesiology in addition to the previously existing courses in cardiac surgery and cardiology.
After reaping benefit from this technology for quite sometime, the PGI started conducting workshops yearly, to spread the knowledge of this technology in the Indian medical milieu. The 8th consecutive event of its kind has been an annual feature (being organised under the chairmanship of Prof GD Puri, and Dr Aweek Jayant as the Org. Secretary) and is targeted at cardiac anaesthesiology and critical care trainees.
The 8th Annual Perioperative and Critical Care Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) workshop at the Advanced Cardiac Centre (ACC) at PGIMER will take place from February 28 to March 1, 2104. The aim of the workshop is to broaden the knowledge base of TEE across the country. The workshop comprises didactic lectures, a session which involves dissection of pig hearts for an understanding cardiac anatomy, an image plane workshop and finally hands on with a TEE machine. A number of distinguished faculties from across the country and abroad constitute the presenters, discussants and panelists. Dr Theresa Ann Tracy, Director of Fetal Echo and Pediatric Cardiologist from the lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, USA, Dr Kathirvel Subramniam from University of Pittsburgh, Dr Balachundhar Subramaniam from Harvard University, Dr Pankaj Nayyar from long Island, Dr lewis Wilfred from Boston, and Dr Marudachallam from Australia are some of the international Faculty for the TEE workshop.
