The clinical role of cardiologists should not be belittled despite the rising number of diagnostic tools in the field of cardiology. Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, Lt. Gen. B. N.Shahi, stated this, at the inaugural function of a three-day workshop on interventional cardiology at military hospital CTC- which is a superspeciality institute in the field of cardiology in the Armed Forces. Around 150 cardiologists attended the workshop from civil and military hospitals.

The clinical cardiologist plays a vital role in the management of myocardial infraction in a cost-effective manner, said Shahi. He also brought to the notice of the young cardiologists that more than 60 per cent of the intervention cardiology was being done by the hardware and requires little expertise. Gone are the days of prolonged hospitalization. Echocardiography has provided marvellous tools. However, this does not minimize the role of a clinical cardiologist, he stressed.

Out of 100 patients who visit the clinic, one or two are referred for intervention, he said, adding that a clinical cardiologist was the best teacher whereas the interventional cardiologist was a palliationist. The Director General also stressed on the need for promoting preventive cardiology.

The workshop included live demonstration of various coronary and non-coronary interventions such as coronary angioplasty of complex nature, rotational atherectomy, intravascualr coronary and device of closing of holes in the heart. Brig. Vimla Mehta, Commandant of CTC said. A new 120 bedded cardiology centre was also inaugurated on the occasion, while LT. Gen. V.D. Tiwari, Commandant AFMC released a CD on various methods of intervention.