Kauvery Hospital Vadapalani Launches India’s First ‘Cardiac Shock Team’ for Rapid Life-Saving Response

Chennai, September 2024: Kauvery Hospital Vadapalani is proud to announce the launch of India’s first integrated Cardiac Shock Team, setting a new benchmark in advanced cardiac care. This innovative team is designed to provide rapid, coordinated intervention for patients suffering from cardiac arrest/ cardiac failure following acute cardiac dysfunction aiming to prevent the critical delays in treatment that can often lead to fatal outcomes.

Accessible through a dedicated helpline, the Cardiac Shock Team streamlines care by acting as a single point of contact for patients, caregivers, and families. By eliminating the need to navigate multiple departments, the team makes sure that life-saving interventions are administered without delay, delivering seamless care during the most critical moments.

At the heart of this initiative is the provision of quaternary care—a highly specialized level of medical care that extends beyond traditional tertiary services. Quaternary care includes advanced treatments such as rare and complex procedures, and specialized care in areas like cardiac surgery, and transplantation. This level of care, offered at select centers like Kauvery Hospital, integrates Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) systems to stabilize patients in critical condition and is available 24/7.

The Cardiac Shock Team comprises a multidisciplinary group of experts, including cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and intensivists, who collaborate to provide the best possible treatment in life-threatening situations. This coordinated approach is crucial, as untreated cardiac shock significantly increases the risk of mortality.

The launch of the Cardiac Shock Team was officiated by Thiru Ma Subramanian, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu, with special guests Prof. S. Thanikachalam, Chairman and Director, Cardiac Care Center, SRMC & RI, and Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder and Executive Director of Kauvery Group of Hospitals.

Speaking at the event, Prof. S. Thanikachalam highlighted the critical importance of the service saying, “Cardiac shock is a medical emergency that requires immediate, coordinated care. The Cardiac Shock Team at Kauvery Hospital ensures that no time is wasted in delivering the right intervention, ultimately saving countless lives.”

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co founder and Executive director , Kauvery Group of Hospitals. added, “With the introduction of the Cardiac Shock Team, we are redefining how cardiac emergencies, most critical cardiac patients are managed. Our dedicated helpline offers immediate access to expert care so that patients receive timely, life-saving interventions. This initiative establishes a new standard in cardiac care and will undoubtedly reduce mortality rates from cardiac arrest.”

Building on international best practices, Kauvery Hospital’s Shock Team model integrates advanced technologies and specialized skills to handle complex cases, such as those requiring mechanical circulatory support systems like ECMO, Impella and LVAD devices. These interventions support patients as they recover or to prepare for procedures like transplants, offering a lifeline for the most critical cases.

As a next step Inspired by the success of National cardiogenic shock initiative ( NSCI) in USA

Kauvery Hospital Vadapalani will commission a Cardiac Shock Team a first-of-its-kind initiative in India. Based on international protocols, the team will consist of a minimum of three doctors on call, including a cardio vascular surgeon, a cardiologist, and a cardiac anesthetist, supported by a physician assistant trained in echocardiography and perfusion.

The Shock Team will coordinate closely with the emergency response teams at Kauvery group of hospitals and other referral centers under a Shock Alert protocol. Once a Shock Alert is activated, all stakeholders, including the patient’s primary cardiologist, will collaborate via a dedicated online group, ensuring real-time communication and decision-making throughout the patient’s treatment until discharge.

A dedicated physician will be guiding the patient’s care and working closely with the Shock Team to determine the most effective interventions, including MCS placement at the referral center or transfer to Kauvery Vadapalani for specialized treatment in the newly established Shock ICU.

Kauvery Hospital remains at the forefront of emergency medical services, consistently introducing advanced care models and life-saving technologies that set the standard for excellence in patient outcomes.