Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, and IAP organize CME on Congenital Heart Disease

New Delhi: Faridabad based Amrita Hospital held a CME on congenital heart disease (CHD) in association with the Faridabad chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP). More than 25 pediatricians from Faridabad, Ballabgarh, and Palwal attended the day-long program.

The hospital is one of India’s largest multi-specialty private hospital with 2,600 beds.

Prominent experts from Amrita Hospital addressed the audiences, including Dr. S Radhakrishnan, Head – Paediatric Cardiology and Adult Congenital Heart Disease, and Dr. Ashish Katewa, Head – Paediatric & Congenital Heart Surgery. Dr. Anil Nage, President, and Dr. Dhansukh Kumawat, Secretary, of Faridabad chapter of Indian Academy of paediatrics were also present on the dais.

Dr. S Radhakrishnan, Head – Pediatric Cardiology & Adult Congenital Heart Disease, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, spoke about the symptoms of CHD and when surgical intervention is needed. He said: “In India, less than 2% of children with congenital heart disease are diagnosed while still in the womb, compared to 95-95% in Western countries. Even when diagnosed after birth, the children reach a tertiary center at a very critical stage when it is a challenge to save their life. Technologies like fetal ECHO and ECHO cardiography are enabling us to diagnose CHD much more easily now. There is an urgent need to educate pediatricians about the warning signs of CHD and how to identify it early. Organizing this CME is a step in that direction.”

Dr. Ashish Katewa, Head – Paediatric & Congenital Heart Surgery, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, spoke about the frequently asked questions by parents when faced with CHD in their child. He said: “Many questions flash through the mind of parents when their child gets diagnosed with CHD. These relate to the disease itself, why their child got it, could they have done something to prevent it, can CHD happen to their future children too, what if the child doesn’t undergo surgery, the risks of surgery, the lifespan of a child with CHD, etc. It is very important for a pediatrician to address their concerns with empathy.”

Dr. Katewa added: “India is the CHD capital of the world, with 200,000 children born every year suffering from the disease. Though large number of these children remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, we are making steady progress in the field of pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. There is considerable misinformation about congenital heart defects not only among the public but also among physicians, which poses a big challenge in treating this disease. The purpose of this talk was to answer the questions which the parents and treating pediatrician may have about the causes and prevention of CHD, outcomes of treatment and long-term prognosis after surgery.”

Dr. Anil Nage, President, Indian Academy of paediatrics, Faridabad chapter, said that the CME was held to educate pediatricians about CHD, especially the dangerous conditions that require immediate treatment. “In India, most pediatric heartcare facilities are concentrated in cities, which hinders proper diagnosis and treatment of CHD in rural areas and smaller towns. We need more such facilities in all parts of India, with proper training of pediatricians for better understanding of CHD.”