New cardiac MRI unit opens at Jayadeva hospital

The new cardiac MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) facility at Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research will allow the hospital to provide a critical health service within its own premises.

Earlier, the hospital had to refer patients outside to get the cardiac MRI to check the viability if the patients had cardiac mylopathy.

The facility –inaugurated by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday- will now be provided at just Rs 2,100, said the institute’s director Dr C N Manjunath.

If the patient cannot afford the MRI, the hospital would offer it for free, the director added. The MRI facility was set up at Sri Jayadeva Institute on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Hyderabad-based Maxcure Hospitals.

Citing newer studies, Dr Manjunath said air pollution is one of the major reasons for cardiovascular diseases in recent times. He said the institute did a study of 500 traffic police and will do a similar studies on 500 auto drivers.

”Since they have the maximum exposure to air pollution, we’re analysing their health,” he said. Initial reports have shown that they have hypertension, diabetes and respiratory illnesses,” Dr Manjunath said, adding that vehicular pollution is the major cause of air pollution.

Dr Manjunath added that a cardiac rehabilitation centre will be set-up at the hospital in the next 3 months, where counselling will be given to patients post-surgery.