Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: Cardiology Department of Government Medical College and Superspeciality Hospital (GMC&SSH) Jammu today gave an astounding welcome to internationally acclaimed interventional French cardiologist Dr. Marc Silvestri.
Hundreds of students drawn from different schools of Jammu city had lined up with balloons and play cards in their hands inscribed with message of ‘Say no to Drugs’ and ‘Say no to Smoking’. Dr.Marc Silvestri reached the venue along with Head, Department of Cardiology Dr. Sushil Sharma and released the balloons in the air. The balloons filled the whole sky with red colour, giving a message of saying no to drugs and smoking.
He stressed that smoking one cigarette a day results in a risk of heart disease that is halfway between that of a smoker and a non-smoker.
“Among the diseases that can be caused by smoking are vascular stenosis, lung cancer, heart attacks and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” added DR. Silvestri .Further passive smoking is even more hazardous than smoking itself He added that drug use seems a “cool” idea in the beginning but can turn into a living nightmare that includes accidents, hospitalization, a life of crime, a criminal record, hurting those you love, destroyed relationships, a prison sentence and death.
Adding to this discourse, HoD Cardiology Dr. Sushil Sharma said that criminals manufacture and sell drugs. “They do not care what effects the drugs have on their victims; they are only interested in the money. These criminals terrorise ordinary people and society, using violence against anyone who tries to stop them.. This destabilizes society and could lead to its disintegration,” added Dr. Sushil. He also stressed upon one and all to shun smoking, the root cause of all cardiovascular diseases and particularly in youth population
Talking about interventional cardiology, Dr Marc Silvestri has been offering angioplasty with stenting to all patients with LMCA stenosis since 1993. In the period up to 1998, six operators had treated 140 patients with unprotected (i.e. non-bypassed) LMCA stenosis of more than 50 percent.
“Studies at the time had found that surgery was better for patients with severe blockages of major coronary arteries than not having surgery. Stents were introduced in 1990s, and because they relieved pain and were far less invasive than bypass surgery, they became treatment of choice,” said Silvestri.
Dr Silvestri commended the work done by the Department of Cardiology and appreciated the number and quality of the intervention procedures being done by the department under Dr Sushil Sharma, This coronary unit is doing interventions which are being done at the leading centre in this country and further added that the kind of procedures department is doing at Jammu is at par with any world Centre.
Subsequently Dr Silvestri along with Dr Sushil Sharma conducted a workshop and did complex coronary intervention in all cases successfully.
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