World Heart Day – Dhiren Shah, Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon, CIMS Hospital, Ahmedabad.

“The initial set of lockdowns imposed to arrest the spread of Covid-19 and the focus on prioritising the available medical infrastructure for the treatment of the rapidly rising number of Covid cases in the country imposed severe restrictions and limitations on regular surgeries, including those involving the heart. While with elective surgeries patients and surgeons alike have the flexibility and convenience to choose the most suitable date, however unwarranted prolonged delays can cause severe complications especially for cardiac patients. Going by the current trends, the pandemic is here to stay for some time now till effective vaccines are discovered and approved, thereby making it imperative for patients to no longer avoid any health conditions that exist, especially pertaining to the functioning of their heart. The need of the hour is for hospitals and surgeons to actively work towards dispelling any fears which the patients might have while visiting healthcare facilities, be it for surgeries or routine check-ups. At CIMS, I have performed two successful heart transplants during this time and both the patients are doing well and showing good response to the surgery. While we continue to offer teleconsultation, we are urging patients to visit hospitals for their routine check-ups while adhering to all safety protocols, as notified by the authorities” said Dr. Dhiren Shah, Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon, CIMS Hospital, Ahmedabad.