National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) has started a Paediatric Cardiac Electrophysiology (PCE) programme in the country, according to a statement issued by the institute on Friday.
PCE is the branch of cardiology that deals with heart rhythm conditions in children. Electrophysiologists (EPs) work to treat a child's heart's electrical system. EPs have specialised training beyond just cardiology.
According to the statement, Dr Mohammad Mohsin, who trained in pediatric cardiology and followed it with two years of training at the University of Alberta in Canada, was recruited by NICVD to start PCE procedures in Pakistan.
An eight-year-old child resident of Sukkur with repeated attacks of fast heart rates of up to 200 beats per minute, was cured using catheters at NICVD, Karachi free of charge. This is the first time that an EP study and ablation procedure has been performed on such a young child in Pakistan, claimed the health facility.
Speaking to the media, Dr Mohsin said that the procedure was performed successfully without any complications.
Heart problems in which the heart goes too fast or too slow are not uncommon in children, he said, adding that highly specialised doctors can cure these children by means of a complex procedure called electrophysiology study and ablation.
As there were no pediatric electrophysiologists in Pakistan these children could not be adequately treated until now, he claimed.
He added that these complex procedures require dedicated teamwork between referring cardiologists, pediatric cardiologists, technologists, anesthetists, and electrophysiology physicians, which the NICVD has.
Congratulating the PCE team, NICVD Executive Director Prof Nadeem Qamar said that the institute has achieved another milestone by starting the first PCE Programme in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2021.
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