24 May 2025: Every minute counts when it comes to the heart. Across India, over one-third of heart attack patients die before they reach the hospital, often because early symptoms are missed or because they end up in facilities not equipped to manage the full spectrum of cardiac emergencies. Many cardiac emergencies still begin with a misdiagnosis—or worse, inaction. A vague chest discomfort is often dismissed as gas, fatigue, or stress. By the time it is identified as a cardiac issue, the window for intervention has closed. In districts like East Midnapore, where people frequently visit standalone Cath labs or diagnostic centres, the situation is even more concerning as critical time is often lost in referrals, repeat tests, or complications that go unmanaged. Recent studies published by the Cardiological Society of India highlight a stark reality: over 40% of cardiac patients in tier-2 towns and rural areas are referred late, often only after their condition has worsened. Many families from East Midnapore needs to rush patients in the middle of the night, losing precious hours that could have been avoided.
Not every heart procedure is safe to perform in a basic cath lab. When complications arise during angioplasty, like sudden drops in blood pressure, arrhythmia, or vessel rupture, only a comprehensive cardiac care facility can provide the immediate ICU backup, emergency surgery, and multi-specialist intervention required to save a life. Unfortunately, these support systems are rarely available in fragmented or minimally staffed setups.
But what if that first symptom can be treated with a definitive diagnosis, expert treatment, and a full recovery. That is now possible, thanks to a new generation of comprehensive cardiac care available at Manipal Hospitals Kolkata, where patients from East Midnapore are increasingly turning not just for treatment, but for survival. With 75 cardiologists, 15 CTVS surgeons, and a network of 7 Cath labs across its five units—including Salt Lake, Mukundapur, Broadway, Dhakuria, and Medica Superspecialty Hospital (a unit of Manipal Hospitals Network), the hospital provides seamless cardiac care, from initial diagnosis to surgical recovery. With over 30,000 successful cardiac procedures, including 3,000+ heart surgeries annually, the team brings decades of cumulative experience to every case, which often registers as the first in Eastern India or the country.
What makes Manipal different is not just scale, but the ability to respond in real time. The hospital is equipped with 500+ critical care beds, advanced imaging, 24x7 emergency teams, and in-house specialists for nephrology, endocrinology, neurology, and more, ensuring no delay in life-saving decisions.
Dr. Prakash Kumar Hazra, Director and Head Cardiology Specialist, Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria, stated, “Manipal Hospitals, one of the largest healthcare networks in India, has brought some of the most advanced cardiac treatments to Eastern India, including the first AI-driven wireless injectable pacemaker insertion at our Dhakuria unit. The nature of procedures we perform daily is unheard of in the districts, such as TAVR/TAVI, CRT-D implantation, laser angioplasty, renal denervation, and even complex heart surgeries are now routinely performed here, with most patients requiring just a one-day hospital stay for interventions. We are proud to say, patients from East Midnapore no longer need to travel outside Bengal for world-class, comprehensive cardiac care—everything they need is available here in Kolkata—closer, safer, and under the care of specialists who handle complex heart cases every single day.”
Manipal Hospitals is among the few centres in India equipped to offer some of the most advanced heart procedures available today. For elderly patients who are too high-risk for open-heart surgery, procedures like TAVR/TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/Implantation) provide a safer, less invasive alternative. Patients suffering from heart failure and irregular heart rhythms can benefit from CRTD (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with Defibrillator), which helps the heartbeat more efficiently and lowers the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The hospital also conducts heart transplant evaluations and provides dedicated post-transplant care. For complex or calcified blockages that don’t respond to standard treatments, laser angioplasty offers a more precise solution. Additionally, Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria is the first in Eastern India to perform an AI-driven wireless injectable pacemaker insertion procedure—a new technology that reduces complications and speeds up recovery. In most of these cases, patients are discharged after just a one-day hospital stay, making advanced cardiac care not only safer but also more convenient and accessible than ever before.
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