History of the Department
The department of Cardiology Calicut Medical College was started in 1971. The unit was started by Dr.Manohar Kini as division of Cardiology under the department of medicine. Subsequently the independed unit was established. A coronary care unit was established in 1976. A 2D echocardiography unit, the first in North kerala was started in 1982. A mini cathlab with a C-arm was made available to perform an right heart cath. DM Cardiology course was started in 1989. Colour Doppler Echocardiography and treadmill lab were installed in 1994.The major break through was establishment of Cardiac Catheterisation laboratory by KHRWS in 1997.
Dr.K.N.Raveendran was the head of the department from the beginning until he retired in 1987. With his gentle manners and quiet approach the department earned a lot of good-will.Dr.K.Sugathan took over as next HOD till 1992. He was mainly instrumental in starting CCU and cardiac pacing and also started DM cardiology programme. The further growth of the department took place under eminent professors Dr.Ashokan Nambiar ,Dr.Sudhayakumar, Dr.Sahasranam Dr.C.G.Bahuleyan and Dr.K. Venugopal . Dr.Kunhali who was a dynamic consultant left the department and joined private sector. Dr.Sahasranam who is a good teacher and an excellent speaker left the department while he was working abroad. The contributions of these teachers will be remembered forever. Dr.N.Sudhayakumar an eminent teacher and a gifted clinician organized the academic programme of the department which is being followed even now and his period was considered the golden academic years of the department. The enormous effort by the professors Dr.N.Sudhayakumar, Dr.K.Venugopal and Dr.M.N.Krishnan to establish the first cath lab will be remembered for ever. Dr.Ashokan Nambiar was the HOD when the first cath lab was installed. The interventional programme was started. He being an academic genius ,a visionary and eminent teacher further took the department to higher levels. Dr.C.G.Bahuleyan started doing coronary angiograms during his tenure and continued to help the department by participating in interventional workshops even after going to Trivandrum MCH as the HOD.Dr.K.Venugopal who took over as the next HOD further strengthened the interventional programme and the academic activities. He preferred to continue as the head of the department declining the opportunity to become the Principal. Many workshops were conducted when Dr .K. Venugopal was the HOD . This include Balloon Mitral Valvotomy Workshop (1999-January) ,Coronary Angioplastry Workshop (1999-June ) , Congenital Heart Disease Workshop (1999 July), Coronary Angioplasty Workshop(1999-July), Balloon Mitral Valvotomy and Aortic Valvotomy Workshop(1999-November), PDA Coil Occlusion Workshop(2000-January).The DM course got recognition from the Medical council of India due to the effort by Dr. K.Venugopal.Under his guidance Dr.Johnson Francis and Dr.C.G.sajeev coordinated the research activities in the department with numerous publications in national and international journals to the credit of the department. Dr.Johnson francis was instrumental in starting the electrophysiological programme in the department with numerous EP workshops being conducted with the help of experts from AIMS, Cochin and SCT Thiruvananthapuram.
Subsequently Dr.C.C.Velayudhan and Dr.Raju George headed the department for short periods leading the department further ahead .Dr.M.N.Krishnan took over as HOD in 2007, another golden period in the development of the Cardiology department .He preferred to remain as the HOD though he was qualified to become the Principal of the institution .He was instrumental in shifting the department to the new super speciality block. A state of art cardiology ICU with 14 beds with hemodynamic monitors, ventilators, centralised oxygen and suction was installed. Two new echo machines were installed. Treadmill lab with 2 treadmills is functioning with 14 cases being done daily. The dream project of the new cath lab became a reality. Philips flat panel cathlab with stent boost technology instead of the old cath lab was a face lift to the department. Cath ICU with 14 beds with bed side echo machine and ventilators and IABP was installed. The new higher end echo machine is in the process of installation .A good air conditioned teaching room with LCD projectors and Laptops was installed. Aggressive teaching sessions every day from 8Am to 9.30 am except on Sundays is attended by all faculty members. Interventional registry is maintained by DM trainees. Departmental web site is established where all presentations by DM trainees will be uploaded hereafter.
Dr. C G Sajeev took over as the present HOD of Cardiology after retirement of Prof M N Krishnan.. The department acquired IVUS, FFR, Rotablator and OCT using fund from ISCHEMIA Study. The second cath lab is installed and is functioning now. We made history by contributing the largest number of patients for ISCHEMIA Trial in the world.
Dr Rajesh G is the current HOD Cardiology. We started 24 hour primary angioplasty programme and is doing 7 to 10 primary PCI per day. Second cath ICU was built with 10 beds and further expansion of the department is going on.
Let the Almighty shower all blessings on the eminent teachers who served the institution and worked hard for decades to bring up the department without expecting anything in return. It will be a formidable task for us to follow their footsteps. Let us start our academic days by remembering them.
Any unintentional omissions may be kindly excused.
By
Dr. G. Rajesh
Professor of Cardiology
Govt Calicut Medical College