Chhattisgarh Becomes a National Leader in Complex Cardiac Treatments: CM Sai

Raipur, 25 September

Chhattisgarh has achieved another historic milestone in advanced medical care. The team of doctors from the state’s oldest and largest medical institution — Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and its affiliated Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital — continues to set benchmarks in complex treatments that bring pride to the state.

In the latest feat, the Department of Cardiology at the Advanced Cardiac Institute (ACI) successfully performed India’s sixth-ever and the first-ever Backman Total Physiological Pacing in a government institution on a 68-year-old female patient.

According to doctors, this complex procedure has not yet been performed even at premier institutions like AIIMS Delhi or PGI Chandigarh.

“Backman Total Physiological Pacing” refers to regulating the heart rhythm entirely through its natural conduction system, ensuring long-term stable and safe heartbeat for the patient.

While ACI and other public cardiac centers have previously performed Left Bundle Branch or His Bundle lead placements, this marks the first time a lead has been placed in the Right Atrium or Backman Bundle — enabling both heart chambers to beat in sync through the heart’s natural electrical pathway.

Details of the Procedure

Dr. Smit Srivastava, Head of Cardiology at ACI, shared that the patient, a Raipur resident, was suffering from Sick Sinus Syndrome, a condition where the heart’s natural pacemaker cells are damaged, leading to irregular heartbeats. In such cases, ventricular or left bundle pacing is usually performed. However, the patient had weak cardiac function and irregular atrial rhythm, making typical approaches risky due to potential heart failure or rapid heart rate.

Given these complexities, the ACI team opted for Backman Total Physiological Pacing. In this technique, the pacemaker lead is implanted in the atrial section of the heart’s natural conduction system, enabling the heart to beat in its most natural rhythm while significantly reducing the risk of heart failure.

How the Procedure Was Performed

The team began with electrophysiological mapping of the Left Bundle, followed by mapping the Backman Bundle in the Right Atrium, where the pacemaker lead was implanted. This enabled the entire pacing system to function as close to naturally as possible.

The treatment team included:

Dr. Smit Srivastava

Dr. S.K. Sharma

Dr. Kunal Ostwal

Dr. Anurag Kujur

Dr. Ved Prakash

The procedure was conducted under the Chief Minister’s Special Health Assistance Scheme, with significant support from Medico-Social Worker Khogendra Sahu in facilitating scheme benefits.

Leadership Remarks

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated the people of Chhattisgarh on this landmark achievement. He said the successful treatment at ACI reflects the high standards and continual progress of the state’s healthcare services.

“Our largest government hospital is no longer confined to routine treatments — it’s now successfully executing world-class, complex medical procedures,” said the Chief Minister.
He applauded the medical team and noted that such accomplishments not only offer new hope to patients, but also demonstrate that government institutions are setting new milestones in medical science.

Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal also praised the achievement, saying that this complex procedure by ACI is a testament to the strength of the state’s healthcare infrastructure and the exceptional skills of its doctors.

“Now, patients in Chhattisgarh don’t need to depend on metros for advanced cardiac procedures,” he said.
The Health Minister emphasized the government’s efforts to ensure free and high-quality treatment for every citizen through schemes like the Chief Minister’s Special Health Assistance Program. He added that this success would help elevate Chhattisgarh’s status on the national healthcare map.

National Recognition

It is worth noting that in 2022–23, the ACI ranked fifth in the country for the highest number of electrophysiological procedures, underscoring its growing prominence in the field of cardiac care.