· The Year was 1966. From a home-made (made by a local
Electronics firm) AC defibrillator, an attempt was made to convert chronic
atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm by counter shock. The patient was
taken to the operation theatre. The first shock was delivered. The
patient went into ventricular fibrillation Dr. T.P.Kulkarni who was draped and
ready to open the chest, if something went wrong almost decided to get into
action. But MJG held on and gave another shock and there was sinus rhythm.
Such was the dramatic birth of Cardiology in Sion Hospital. MJG had an
international NIH Grant on “Clinical evaluation of Vectorcardiolography” for a
period of three years (1966-68). This was followed by ICMR grant in
vector cardiography in myocardial infarction in dogs for 2 years. This
experimental work was done in the Department of Pharmacology. This and
Ivan Decruz’s work on cardiac arrhythmias made Sion Cardiology a leader in
Electrocardiology in the country, even in those early days.TPK,MJG & I.D.,
started early cardiology OPD services in those days.
·
The Cardiology Department of the L.T.M.G. Hospital
had its humble beginning way back in 1973. Pioneering work was done by
Dr. M. J. Gandhi, Dr. D’Curz and Dr. T. P. Kulkarni in setting up the Cardiology
services. What began as only an out patient Department grew into a full
fledged Cardiology Department in 1975 with the addition of a 10 bedded
Intensive Coronary Care Unit.
·
By 1975-76, Dr. Ashwin Mehta and Dr. Pahlajani
joined MJG in his efforts to establish a Cardiology Department. All three
of them being leading cardiologists of the country rapid progress was
made. The same year also saw the addition of a 2 bedded ICCU in small
room in front of the Casualty Department. This small, dingy room saw the
admission of one of our Deputy Municipal Commissioner for acute
infarction. What began as a OPD soon grew into a full-fledged and
established department in January 1978 Not much after in the same year a
cardiac catheterization laboratory was also introduced. The whole gamut of
Cardiological services for pediatric and adult patients began. Dr. M.J.
Gandhi was amongst the first in the country to do Coronary Angiography.
·
In 1980 a fully equipped 10 bedded ICCU with Central
ECG Monitoring along with 2-D Echo and Treadmill Stress testing was
started. A 16 bedded intermediate care ward was started. In those
days, we were the only one to have a computerized stress test in Bombay and our
Pulsed Doppler was the first in the country and attracted patients from all
over Mumbai. In early eighties the use of Intracoronary Urokinase in
acute infarction was pioneering. We were one of the only two centres in
the world, doing that. 1989, saw the introduction of coronary angioplasty
and the proud privilege of being the leader among all the municipal Medical
Colleges is ours. The Department received API’s Dr. D.P.Basu award for
this work.. In 1987, along with the whole country, Interventional procedure
including coronary angioplasty were started. Dr. A. B. Mehta, Dr. D. B.
Pahlajani were among the first to do Coronary Interventions amongst the
Hospitals in the city.
·
Dr. A. B. Mehta was the first to introduce direct
Angioplasty Acute Myocardial Infraction in the country. Dr. A. B. Mehta
and Dr. G. R. Kane established this procedure and today we have the largest
series of direct angioplasty in the country.
·
The gamut of services now offered include Treadmill
stress testing, interventional procedure like thrombolysis, coronary
angioplasty and valvuloplasty.
Research has always been an important aspect of our work. In the early
days pioneering works on vectocardiography, complex arrythmias and
aortorateritis were published. A lot of work was also done in
Coronary Angiography during acute MI, electrophysiology, rheumatic and
congenital heart disease.
·
We have many firsts to our credit. In
vectocardiography, EP studies and coronary angiography, and early stress test,
primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction, we have been pioneers.
·
Over the years the department has also hosted
various congresses. Beginning with the world Congress of
Electrocardiology in 1976, the Ist World Congress on Coronary Heart Diseases in
1982 and an International Congress on Coronary Heart Disease in 1988 was also
conducted by us. In 1991, a workshop on coronary stents was done.
Our department first published the only journal in electrocardiology in our
country. It is unique in the electrocardiology in our country.Indian Soc.
Of Electrocardiology was born in sSion, Cardiology Department and is now in
existence for over 20 years. Mahavir Heart Foundation, a social
organization was also born at Sion. It is now over 3 decades old and has
done innumerable cardiac camps all over Gujarat and Maharashtra and has helped
hundred of cardiac Surgery. The Atithi Grihas in Sion Hosptial also owes
its existence to Mahavir Heart Foundation.
·
MJG has been President of CSI, ABM has been
President of API & DBP has been President of both.
·
This has continued to grow in subsequent years and
continues to remain in forefront in coronary interventional work, amongst all
municipal hospitals.