 Harvey Hospital has been serving needy people with excellent medical facilities at an affordable cost.
Our motto is to 'Say
"no" to no one who needs our service, whatever be the state of their cardiac problem', says Dr M P Naresh Kumar, cardio-thoracic surgeon and managing director, Harvey Healthcare Limited. “We form the cutting edge of science and technology in the field of management of cardiac ailments. We shall grow by excellence in service and professional dedication.”
He explained, “Harvey is committed to have an open, inquiring mind in trying to ascertain the solution to the multitude of problems that still remain unanswered in the field of cardiology by active research and academic progress. This is what we believe will make us leaders in the field rather than just followers."
The focus of the hospital has been on acute interventions in myocardial infraction, beating heart coronary bypass surgery, surgery in failing hearts and low ventricular function, correction of complex congenital heart disease, valve conservative surgery, hybrid and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
 Harvey
Hospital has introduced a new technology of non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical, mechanical treatment for patients with chest pain and heart failure named 'Enhanced External Counter Pulsation' (EECP). According to Dr Naresh Kumar, Harvey is the first hospital in south India to have this facility, though it is a well-proven method in America.
EECP helps to increase blood flow to the heart muscles. The treatment stands in good stead for several years after that. During an EECP session, the patient lies on a padded table. Three large inflatable cuffs - similar to blood pressure cuffs - are strapped around the calves, lower thighs and upper thighs.
 The patient's heart is monitored by an electrocardiograph display on the machine, which regulates the inflation and deflation of the cuffs. The process is linked to the cardiac cycle: when the heart is at rest (diastole), the cuffs are rapidly inflated in sequential order, beginning at the calves and working upwards. Just before systole (heart contraction), the cuffs are deflated simultaneously.
This is similar to the way a flood forces a river to form new channels, EECP stimulates the opening of new blood vessels by increasing blood flow through the coronary arteries.
EECP involves 35 days of treatment. Each treatment session is for one hour and the patients are asked to come daily. It is very important that the patient adheres to the one-hour time schedule fixed by the hospital or medical centre and continue the treatment without a break.
In a bypass surgery, the diseased section of the coronary artery is bypassed with a healthy artery or vein to increase the blood flow to the heart muscle area. Once the blood flow is restored, chest pain may be reduced or eliminated.
 During
EECP, the heart's natural mechanism of forming a new vessel is enhanced which markedly increases the blood supply to the heart muscles. EECP also tends to improve the endothelial cell function that lines the coronary arteries, which determine a person's chance of getting heart attacks. EECP decreases the heart rate and other deleterious neurohormones, which damage the heart muscles.
Harvey charges less than Rs 85,000 for the entire treatment which is nothing compared to bypass and other surgeries. Dr Naresh adds that the cost of the treatment will be brought down further in the next few months.
Advantages of EECP
 The patient can walk a longer distance without chest pain, he or she would have fewer or no angina, episodes of angina would be less painful, need for anti-anginal medications can be reduced, patient can return to work and have an active lifestyle once again. The patient would be more energetic and confident.
EECP is not considered a replacement for coronary artery bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty. Instead, EECP may delay the need for these invasive procedures. In many cases, relief will be sufficient to render them unnecessary. EECP is also used in patients who have already undergone surgery or angioplasty but have not got sufficient relief.
 To prevent the progression of the disease after completion of treatment one is also asked to make lifestyle changes like
Patients are also advised regular follow-up with a cardiologist to lower cholesterol and control blood pressure and diabetes. EECP treatment provides new blood vessels and the patient has to make sure that they do not develop any obstruction again.
 Harvey has treated more than 70 patients successfully in two months and according to them, the success rate is 100 per cent.
For more information, please contact:
Dr M P Naresh Kumar,
cardio-thoracic surgeon,
Harvey Healthcare Limited,
New No 542, (Old No. 143)
T.T.K. Road, Alwarpet
Chennai - 600 018.
Phone : 24311721, 24311722, 24311723, 24311724.
Pics and text
by N Arun Kumar
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