A report on activities of Sajja Heart Foundation
The Sajja Heart Foundation has carried out several activities during the last two years since its inception towards conducting medical research, promoting medical research, and training the younger generation in research methodologists and community education on cardiovascular diseases.
1. International Presentations
The following studies were presented at American Association for Thoracic Surgery International Coronary Congress held in New York, USA. August 21-23,2015
a. Bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting in India - time to raise the bar
b. Analysis of thirty-day outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a large cohort study
2. National Presentations
a. Bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting survey in India presented at the 1st Indian Coronary Surgery Congress held at Bangalore September 26-27, 2015
b. Current status of BITA grafting in India a theme lecture delivered at IACTSCON 2016, held at Lucknow, February 2016
c. Comparison of outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with occult renal disease
3. Completed studies
a. Conducted first Indian survey on the use of “Bilateral Internal Mammary Artery Grafting during CABG in India”
b. Strategies to reduce deep sternal wound infection after bilateral internal mammary artery grafting – An Invited review published in International Journal of Surgery in 2015 from London, UK.
c. Bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting in India - time to raise the bar – manuscript has been prepared and to be submitted to New England Journal of Medicine.
d. Analysis of thirty-day outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a large cohort study – manuscript has been prepared and submitted to New England Journal of Medicine.
e. A feasibility study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of MAR-CUTIS®, Topical Skin Adhesive, in holding closed easily approximated skin edges of wounds from surgical incisions. The study has been completed and submitted the study reports to the sponsors – Houston, Texas, USA.
4. Ongoing Studies
a. PROMOTE Patency- Prospective Randomized comparison of Off-pump and On-pump Multivessel cOronary artery bypass surgery To Evaluate outcomes and graft patency. The study is being conducted at 6 centers in India (Hyderabad, Calcutta, Mumbai, Nadiad, Coimbatore) a total of 70 patients were enrolled so far.
b. Changing trends of re-operative coronary artery bypass grafting: A 14-year study: Manuscript is under preparation.
c. Optimal revascularization of a dual left anterior descending coronary artery: Manuscript is under preparation.
5. CME activities
a. Health at crossroads by Dr. Kunal Sarkar, Past President of IACTS, Sr. Vice Chairman & Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, Medica Superspeciality Hospital, Kolkata
b. Research in Cardiovascular Sciences - time to raise the bar by Dr. Pusapati Venkata Ramachandra Raju Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Star Hospitals, Hyderabad
c. Importance of Biostatistics in Medical Research by Mr. Adusumalli Nadamuni Naidu, M.Sc (Stat), Head, Department of Statistics (Retired), National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR, Hyderabad
6. Supporting research activities
a. Providing statistical help for Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiology residents at Hyderabad.
b. To aid the researchers and investigators in designing studies, data harvesting and analysis, manuscript preparation leading to quality publications.
7. Future studies
a. Planning to conduct 20yrs follow up for patency of radial artery grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery
b. Planning to conduct community awareness programs - Dissemination of knowledge about cardiovascular diseases - Education of senior citizens in preventive and treatment aspects of a heart attack. Planning to conduct a prospective study on “Predictors for postoperative mitral repair failure
c. Preparing Indian Guidelines for coronary artery bypass surgery in association with IACTS.
d. Conduct a study to assess the prevalence of CAD in the geographical area
e. Conduct a study to identify the families with a history of premature CAD and follow up for cardiovascular events and precautions
f. Conduct a study to assess the short-term and long-term renal outcomes in patients with severe LV dysfunction after CABG.
g. Conduct a controlled randomized study on how remote ischemic preconditioning improves renal outcomes in patients undergoing CABG
h. Evaluate the significance of biomarkers in assessing the severity and occurrence of acute kidney injury post-CABG