‘Had We Fought With This Bitter Problem In Time, We Could Have Kept It
Under Control’
— Dr. Damodar Prasad Pokharel
Dr Damodar Prasad Pokharel is the first open heart
surgeon , valve surgeon and coronary artery surgeon of Nepal. He is the Chief of
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery in Bir Hospital. He is also the executive
director at Shahid Ganga Lal Hospital. Dr Pokharel did his schooling from Saraswati
High School, Janakpur, completed his ISc from Amrit Science College, Kathmandu, did his
MBBS from RG Kar College, Calcutta and completed his MS from All India
Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He also pursued further studies of
cardiothoracic and vascular in West Meads Hospital Sydney. Dr. Pokharel spoke
to AKSHAY SHARMA about the issues of heart disease in Nepal. Excerpts :
What is the condition of Nepalese heart Patients ?
Unlike in the past, due to media attention and awareness heart
related disease have gained some limelight. After the initiation by the government
the Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center was established in 1995. And after that
began the process of curing and preventing heart related diseases. We also have been
rehabilitating the heart patients. We have also started doing open heart surgery at
the Bir Hospital.
What is the doctor and heart patient ratio in the country ?
There are now 35 cardiologists in Nepal. We have a congenital
situation that is fatal in almost twenty percent cases. The number of patients
suffering from traumatic heart disease is from 50 to 60 percentage. The coronary heart
related disease is also prevalent. Due to awareness the traumatic heart disease
have declined. It is necessary to change dietary habits, stress, strain, blood pressure .
Due to high cholesterol level the cases of coronary heart disease is increasing. We have
to operate one out of ten patients that visit our hospital.
What is exceptional of heart patients in Nepal?
Almost every heart related disease that comes in is an
exception. The patients that come to us for cure needed cure five years earlier.
The harsh reality is that these patients should have received cure five years ago .
If they had been cured then the current situation would not have arisen. Had we fought
with this bitter problem in time, we could have kept it under control.
Your comments on open heart surgery ?
I started open heart surgery for the first time in Nepal in
1992. I did 11 cases then and now I have done 12 cases. I was the first person
to do the Open Heart , Valve and Coronary Artery By Pass Graphtic in Nepal.
The Coronary Artery surgery which was successful will continue.
The angiogram is the latest equipment and is installed at Shahid Ganga
Lal Hospital. How successful is its operation ?
Angiography is a medical procedure like telegraphy. The
angiogram will let us know if any area is blocked. After that angiography is
used to repair the damage by opening the block. Due to the fluctuation of the
voltage we have not been able to install the angiogram successfully. It will be
operational in three months.
What facilities are the Shahid Ganga Lal Hospital providing ?
We have all the diagnostic facilities and indoor facilities.
After the installment of the angiogram we plan to start open heart surgery.
What other steps have you taken to combat heart problems ?
We have taken initial steps towards heart related problems . It
was my target to start Coronary Artery Bypass in Nepal. It is not true that the poor
would not enjoy our facilities. We could devise different modes like collect some
money to help the poor from profit organizations. The money could be used by poor patients
who cannot afford the cost of operations. We also plan to perform free of cost open
heart surgery to the poor. |
