Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad, within three years of its inception, has not only provided cardiac care and surgical facilities to hundreds of patients of Sindh free of cost but it was also imparting training to doctors and paramedical personnel.
Over two hundred patients of different sex and age groups have been operated for various heart and lungs disease at the department while thousands of cardiac patients were diagnosed and treated by using state of the art equipment like Echocardiography, Intra-operative Trans-esophageal ECG, Intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation and hemodialysis and Ethylene Oxide sterilisation facilities, stated Annual report of the department for the years 2015-16.
Elaborating the need for such department in second largest city of Sindh, the report further stated that modern facilities of cardiac care were concentrated in Karachi alone and people from all over Sindh and even Balochistan had to travel long distance for treatment of heart disease and only the lucky ones could avail them.
Assessing the needs of cardiothoracic and vascular surgical services, Liaquat University hospital, some cardiac surgeons and physicians and philanthropists of the city joined hands and surgery finally started on the March 18, 2013 with immense support of the government departments, high officials and the hospital administration, the report said, adding that despite shortage of trained staff and resources the department was working day and night to serve the humanity. The report informed that the commonest operation performed was coronary bypass grafting of 98 patients followed by 40 surgeries of valve replacement, correction of birth defects of heart 30 cases, lung cancer 10, complications arising from tuberculosis 10, other chest operations 20 and one case of insertion of permanent pace maker. The youngest patient who was operated was one week old baby of 2.5 kilogram while the oldest patient was a 78 year old female.
Besides well equipped modern operation theatres those cater for open heart and thoracic surgeries the department run a regular OPD to make pre and post operative assessment of surgical patients. As well as cardiac rehabilitation service were also provided to post operative cardiac and thoracic patients that makes it the only public sector facility offering rehabilitation services free.
The report acknowledging the contribution of civil society and corporate colleagues said all the services provided to patients have been only possible due to strong public private bond in the shape of "The Society for Heart Care". The society consists of famous cardiologists, business persons, academicians, government officers and social workers.