NIMS Doctors in Hyderabad Treat Severe Heart Arrhythmia in 30-Year-Old

A team of cardiologists at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad has successfully treated a complex ventricular arrhythmia in a 30-year-old manual worker using advanced three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping and radiofrequency ablation.

The patient, a resident of Telangana, had been suffering from persistent palpitations and breathlessness during physical exertion for nearly two years. His health condition had steadily deteriorated despite undergoing treatment at multiple corporate hospitals.

Medical investigations revealed that the patient was experiencing frequent premature ventricular contractions. A continuous 24-hour Holter recording established that 57 percent of his total heartbeats were abnormal. Further diagnostic tests, including a cardiac MRI, showed a dilated left ventricle along with reduced systolic function, while a PET scan ruled out underlying cardiac inflammation.

Due to financial constraints, the manual worker was unable to afford the recommended electrophysiological study and ablation therapy at private medical facilities. He subsequently approached NIMS, where specialists decided to carry out the critical intervention using 3D mapping technology.

Doctors faced significant technical challenges during the operation because the origin of the abnormal electrical activity was located near the left aortic cusp, positioned dangerously close to the left coronary artery. This anatomical proximity created a heightened risk of vessel injury. To mitigate the danger, the medical team combined 3D mapping with coronary angiography to precisely locate the site and carefully titrated the radiofrequency energy, successfully ablating the abnormal focus without damaging the adjacent artery.

Following the intervention, follow-up evaluations using ECG and Holter monitoring confirmed the complete suppression of the premature ventricular contractions and the restoration of a normal cardiac rhythm. The entire procedure was provided completely free of cost under the state government's Aarogyasri scheme.

Medical experts at the institute cautioned that individuals experiencing frequent premature ventricular contractions should not neglect their symptoms, as a persistent high burden can progressively weaken the heart muscle over time. They noted that early diagnostic measures such as an ECG, echocardiography, and Holter monitoring are essential to identify patients requiring advanced evaluation.