AIMS Paediatric Cardiology @ Amritapuri.org



MotherPage Vision & Mission HealthCare Super Speciality Heart Institute Paediatric Cardiology

Paediatric Cardiology

The Paediatric Cardiology program was initiated at AIMS recognising the pressing need for quality care for children with heart disease at an affordable cost. Previously, the extremely long waiting lists for paediatric cardiac surgery at other institutions underlined the fact that the services provided were insufficient for the population. In its first two years of operation, AIMS performed over 1,200 heart operations for congenital heart defects in children. AIMS is now among the largest paediatric cardiac centres in India.

AIMS has developed an infrastructure that can treat most heart ailments in children. These include correction of complex heart defects in newborns and non-surgical closure of heart defects in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. We have been routinely performing highly successful, open-heart operations in young infants and newborns. The first successful arterial switch procedure in the state of Kerala was performed at AIMS. Surgeons at AIMS have also successfully performed open heart surgery on a baby weighing less than 2 kilograms.

AIMS performs 20 - 30 echocardiograms each day

All the procedures have been heavily subsidized and performed at a cost to the patient that is lower than in most other centres. A number of children from very poor families come to the paediatric cardiology division at AIMS everyday. It has been AIMS's endeavour to treat each one of them.

An average of four operations are performed for children with congenital heart disease every day at AIMS.

AIMS also performs non-surgical (interventional) procedures in approximately 12 -15 children every week.

Dr. Subramanium, head of the AIMS Paediatric Cardiology Centre, explains the AIMS difference. “The difference in AIMS is the motive factor. Here we are not forced to work for a financial return for the hospital. Elsewhere I would have to do that. Here there is an ethical approach to the work. I find the staff here are very aware, responsible and good at their work. Each staff member should be like a role model for others and that is happening. There is an atmosphere of calm. Even in the acute emergency sections, that calm prevails. That is very rare in a hospital.

“Patients have a very wide access to our services at very low cost. Anyone can register here for Rs. 30, and I can send patients to see another doctor very easily with no extra charge to the patient. We can’t find that elsewhere. All my hopes about coming here have been confirmed.”