RAIPUR,INDIA: The improvements in government hospitals have bolstered public confidence in Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, affiliated with Pandit Nehru Medical College, one of the biggest in Chhattisgarh.

Renowned for its skilled team of doctors and paramedical staff, the hospital is attracting patients from within the state and neighboring regions for complex medical procedures.

In a recent milestone, the Heart Surgery Department at Ambedkar Hospital successfully performed a challenging open-heart surgery on a 52-year-old patient from Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh. The patient, suffering from rheumatic heart disease, had three damaged heart valves—mitral, aortic, and tricuspid. Led by Dr. Krishnakant Sahu, Head of the Department of Heart Surgery, the team replaced the mitral and aortic valves with titanium metal valves and repaired the tricuspid valve. The operation was carried out free of cost under the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Ayushman Yojana.

The patient, who had experienced severe breathing difficulties for four years, initially sought treatment in Madhya Pradesh but was deterred by high costs, estimated at over ₹5 lakh. At Ambedkar Hospital, despite additional risks due to weak kidneys and elevated creatinine levels, the surgery was conducted successfully. The patient showed remarkable recovery, beginning to eat independently just two days post-surgery.

Dr. Sahu highlighted that rheumatic heart disease, often caused by untreated childhood throat infections from Streptococcus bacteria, is more prevalent in North and Central India. Misguided antibodies, likened to 'missiles', damage the heart valves over time. The patient’s procedure involved replacing two valves and repairing the third, a complex surgery rarely performed in routine cardiac centers.

The hospital has a track record of successful surgeries on patients from other states, including a recent case from Haryana where the patient opted for Ambedkar Hospital over a reputed Delhi institution.

Dr. Santosh Sonkar, Medical Superintendent of Ambedkar Hospital, emphasized the commitment to providing high-quality treatment under existing resources. "Patients from neighboring states like Madhya Pradesh are benefiting from the Ayushman scheme, reflecting the trust and efficiency of Ambedkar Hospital," he stated.