Aligarh: The Cardiology Department at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital (JNMCH), Aligarh Muslim University, organised a specialised workshop on Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) interventions at the Cath Lab, aimed at treating complex and long-standing coronary artery blockages.
Prof. Asif Hasan, Chairman, Department of Cardiology, explained that “CTO refers to chronic, calcified, and completely blocked coronary lesions. Opening such vessels is technically challenging and carries potential risks.”
He added that eight highly complex CTO cases were successfully treated using advanced intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance, ensuring precision and safety without complications.
Renowned interventional cardiologist Dr. Anand Gnanrajan from Apollo Hospital, Chennai, was invited to perform these procedures alongside the JNMC cardiology team. Dr. Hasan emphasised that “such procedures usually cost ₹4-5 lakhs in private hospitals, but were performed here at nominal charges, greatly benefiting underprivileged patients.”
DM cardiology residents also participated in the workshop, gaining hands-on exposure to advanced techniques. Dr. Mallik Azharuddin, who attended the session, remarked, “This initiative significantly enhances our training and patient care capabilities.”
Prof. Hasan affirmed that similar workshops will be conducted regularly to address the growing number of complex cases in the Cardiology OPD and Cath Lab, ensuring quality care and capacity building within the institution.
