KOZHIKODE: Amid concerns of over 2.5 lakh untimely deaths annually due to organ failure and high incidence of end-stage heart diseases, cardiac transplantation experts and cardiac surgeons across the state began deliberations at the 5th Annual conference of Society for Heart failure and Transplantation (SHFT), on Sunday here. They discussed effective strategies for surveillance, prevention and management of heart failure, scientific methodologies for salvaging the failing heart and extraordinarily effective heart transplantation procedures.
Inaugurating the conference, health minister K.K Shylaja said that the state is committed to evolve comprehensive healthcare schemes directed towards prevention and management of cardiac ailments. The healthcare expenditure of the state has grown from Rs 470 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 1,013 crore in the last fiscal. With more emphasis on health care, the government has also resolved to ensure healthy environment for living and develop strategies to control many life style diseases. Collective effort of the health sector and general public is needed to bridge the organ demand-supply gap. Public and private hospitals can start coordinated effort to broaden the organ donor pool and implement functional transplant programmes, she said.
Dr K. Venugopal, president SHFT, drew attention to the major concerns in heart transplantation. “Considering our population and the high prevalence of end-stage heart failures, only a miniscule percentage gets the organ for transplant before time runs out. All states therefore need proactive donation and transplant programmes,” he said. The highlights of the second day scientific programme are symposium on heart failure crisis, heart rhythm issues in cardiac transplantation, heart-lung transplant and workshop on extra-corporeal oxygenation strategies (ECMO) to deal with extreme cardio respiratory failure.
