PGI Chandigarh to start paediatric cardiac surgery ICU

Chandigarh: The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is going to set up a 10 bed paediatric cardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU) in the next six months. The unit will cater to minors, said institute doctors. They conceded that presently, the minors admitted for cardiac surgeries were kept at the 25-bed general cardiac surgery ICU, at the Advance Cardiac Center of the institute.

"There will be a dedicated pediatrics cardiac surgery ICU. It has been approved at various levels already and we are hopeful that it should start functioning in the next six months," Dr G D Puri, Head, Anesthesia and Intensive Care, told Chandigarh Newsline on Wednesday.

A team of nurses are being trained for this new minor ICU unit. "Once the ICU comes up, it will help in increasing efficiency. There will definitely be improvements in outcomes," said Mr. Puri, adding that the ICU will be equipped with the latest machines .

The new ICU is to be housed inside the Advance Cardiac Center itself, revealed PGI officials. "Civil work is likely to start soon," said an official. "All the modalities for the project have been finalized already and we are expecting it to be operational later this year."

Senior PGI doctors said that the new ICU will provide better care to minor patients. "They require more attention. This is going to be a very important step towards improvement in care for those patients undergoing surgeries," said a doctor.

Presently, 50% of the cardiac operations conducted at PGI are of minors. "The paediatrics cardiology has improved at the hospital and now more minor patients also come to us," said a doctor.