AGMC & GBP Hospital achieves a historic milestone by performing Tripura’s first PTSMA procedure for HOCM. The successful operation marks a major boost in the state’s cardiac treatment capabilities, offering advanced, free, and life-saving care under Ayushman Bharat.
Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital have marked a historic achievement by successfully conducting Tripura’s first Percutaneous Transluminal Septal Myocardial Ablation (PTSMA)—a highly specialised cardiac procedure crucial for treating Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM). The milestone procedure, performed on November 15 in the Cardiology Department, represents a major leap forward for advanced medical care in the state, according to an official government press release.
The breakthrough involved a 46-year-old patient who had been suffering from severe HOCM and recurrent chest pain for many years. HOCM is a genetic heart disorder that causes abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, blocking blood flow and putting patients at risk of arrhythmias, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death. Until now, patients in Tripura requiring PTSMA were frequently referred to hospitals outside the state, leading to financial strain, delayed treatment, and significant emotional stress for families.
PTSMA is recognised globally as a complex interventional cardiology technique. It involves carefully injecting a controlled amount of medical-grade alcohol into a targeted branch of the coronary artery. The alcohol induces a controlled thinning of the thickened heart muscle, reducing obstruction in the left ventricular outflow tract and improving the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently. The procedure demands high precision, advanced imaging support, and a highly trained interventional cardiology team.
Hospital authorities reported that the patient responded remarkably well to the procedure and is currently recovering at an encouraging pace. Doctors described the success as a “turning point” in Tripura’s advancement toward modern, accessible, and high-quality cardiac care.
With this achievement, AGMC & GBP Hospital has now joined a small but notable group of medical institutions in eastern India capable of performing this sophisticated intervention. Cardiologists emphasised that this capability represents not only a technological milestone but also a demonstration of the state’s growing medical expertise and enhanced infrastructure.
Experts also stressed the importance of early diagnosis of HOCM, highlighting that many patients remain undiagnosed due to lack of awareness and limited access to specialised cardiac testing. Improved screening, better patient education, and timely interventional treatment can significantly reduce complications and mortality associated with the disease.
According to the press release, the success of the procedure reflects years of dedication, skill improvement, and continuous teamwork within the Cardiology Department. It also demonstrates the steady progress of Tripura’s public healthcare system, which has been expanding its capacity to offer advanced medical treatments within the state, reducing dependency on specialised institutions in other regions.
The medical team that played a pivotal role in performing the PTSMA procedure included:
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Dr Anindya Sundar Tribedi (Assistant Professor, Consultant Cardiologist & In-Charge HoD)
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Dr Rakesh Das (Consultant Cardiologist)
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Dr Manna Bhattacharjee (Junior Doctor)
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Dr Arghya Pratim Nath
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Dr Anwesha Debnath
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Dr Supratim Acharya
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Dr Bulti Namah Das
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Dr Angela Debbarma
Supporting them were Cath-lab nurses Debabrata Debnath, Pranakrishna Deb, Manash Dutta, and Titiksha Majumder, along with Echo Technician Kishan Roy and Cath-Tech Sanjay Ghosh, who ensured smooth coordination during the complex procedure.
Significantly, the entire treatment was offered free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the Health & Family Welfare Department confirmed. This ensured that the patient, who might otherwise have struggled to afford such an expensive intervention, received world-class healthcare without financial hardship.
The successful PTSMA marks the beginning of a new chapter in Tripura’s healthcare landscape. It sets a new benchmark for the state’s cardiology services and reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen public healthcare and introduce advanced medical interventions at the regional level. With this breakthrough, AGMC & GBP Hospital has established itself as a rising centre for specialised cardiology procedures in Northeast India.
| Also Read: Tripura’s AGMC achieves success in Advanced Vascular Surgeries |
As medical teams continue to expand their expertise, authorities hope that more patients suffering from complex cardiac conditions will have access to life-saving treatment within Tripura, ensuring faster recovery, reduced expenses, and improved long-term health outcomes.
