As part of knowledge upgradation among doctors, Dr Gokhale CT Associates in association with Secunderabad-based Yashoda Hospital  organized a Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programme on minimal access cardiovascular interventions in Hyderabad.

In the recent past, there have been lots of advances coming up in the medical field especially with regard to surgical procedures. Nowadays cardiac surgery and related sub-specialty areas are undergoing a significant shift towards minimal access surgery.

Minimal access cardiac surgery is a patient-friendly procedure wherein a small incision of about seven centimeters made on the side of the chest that goes between ribs and not breaking any bone bringing down recovery time to three-four weeks instead of the usual three-four months required after a regular surgery. The infection and blood transfusion rate too come down with this technique.

About 100 doctors from different hospitals across the state participated in the program. The main aim of the program was to provide up-to-date information and upgrade knowledge in all aspects of minimal access cardiac surgery, informed Dr A G K Gokhale, cardiothracic surgeon, Yashoda Hospitals and co-organizer of the CME programme.

Knowledge and training in minimally invasive techniques will help the Doctors to improve outcome results and serve patients better. Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale is a noted name among the medical fraternity in general and cardiothoracic surgeons in India in particular.

Dr Gokhale has had the distinction of performing India’s first heart-kidney combined transplant and Andhra Pradesh’s first heart transplant, besides more than 5000 open heart surgeries — adult as well as pediatric. Dr Gokhale did a good number of minimally invasive cardiac surgeries including bypass surgeries, valve replacements, mediastinoscopy and endoscopic vein harvesting.

Specialist Doctors from different hospitals took part in the event and spoke on various topics. Dr Srinivas Kumar a cardiologist from Care hospitals spoke on percutaneous valve therapies, Dr A G K Gokhale from Yashoda hospitals spoke on minimal access cardiac surgery, Dr Dilip Kumar Ratti who is a cardiothoracic surgeon spoke on Endovascular Interventions & Hybrid Procedures for Aortic Disease and Prabhat from Medtronic gave insights on Evolution of Prosthetic heart valves.

Apart from these, several doctors such as Dr Dayasagar Rao from KIMS; Dr Sashikant from Yashoda Hospitals; Dr Jyotsna from NIMS; Dr Sunil Kumar from Apollo Hospitals; Dr Ravi Kumar from Global Hospitals took part in a panel discussion.