Hans News Service Rajamahendravaram

AdvancedMICS Academy India, aimed at training young cardiac surgeons in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, was launched at Pulse Hospital premises at Diwan Cheruvu on Thursday. The academy, established jointly by Vijaya Bharathi Chest Institute and Pulse Hospital, is claimed to be the first of its kind in India. Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Venkata Rayudu Nekkanti, SV Heart Care specialist Dr AV Subba Rao, Vijaya Bharathi Chest Institute chairman Dr Guduri Srinivas and CEO Radhika Guduri attended the inaugural programme and unveiled the academy plaque.

Chief cardiac surgeon Dr T Vamsidhar, who explained the procedure and patient experiences, said MICS involves performing cardiac surgery through small access points without conventionally opening the chest. Patients could recover faster and return to their routine work within five to six days, compared with the longer recovery period associated with conventional procedures, he said. Dr Vamsidhar said he was the only surgeon in India performing such procedures and that MICS specialists were available in only 12 countries. The academy would provide training to young surgeons, promote awareness about MICS and make advanced cardiac surgical care available at affordable cost in the Godavari region, he said. Dr Lakshman Kolluri said modern cardiac procedures were making surgery easier and more accessible to patients. Dr Nekkanti stressed the need for doctors to keep updating their skills and advised people to follow healthy eating habits. Dr Subba Rao said faster recovery after cardiac surgery was a major advantage of MICS.