Odisha Government Addresses Rising Mortality in Open Heart Surgery
Expert Support from Premier Institutions
Bhubaneshwar: In response to the concerning increase in mortality rates among patients undergoing open heart surgery at the Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery (CTVS) wing of SCB Medical College & Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack, the Odisha government has reached out for expert assistance from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and Government Medical College, Kottayam. Recognized as the largest healthcare facility in the state, SCBMCH experiences the highest daily patient footfall.
High Court Involvement and New Initiatives
According to a report by UNI, the Secretary of the Family & Welfare Department of the Odisha government provided an affidavit to the High Court stating that both healthcare institutions have a commendable track record. They have assured the government of their commitment to deploy teams to assist SCBMCH surgeons in a concerted effort to reduce the currently alarming mortality rates.
The health secretary also announced plans to recruit additional faculty and senior residents, either on a contractual or regular basis, ensuring continuous patient care in open heart surgeries. Furthermore, a new protocol titled “Policy and Procedure on Open Heart Surgeries” has been established to streamline operations within the CTVS Department.
Focus Areas of the New Protocol
The newly implemented policy aims to enhance the management of patients undergoing various types of open heart surgeries. It emphasizes critical areas such as the identification and diagnosis of heart diseases, development of appropriate treatment plans, and the execution of both medical and surgical interventions, including procedures like Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Valve Replacement/Repair.
Enhancing Technical Expertise
The health secretary highlighted the urgent need to bolster the technical skills of the existing surgical team, especially in light of recent faculty retirements and a shortage of CTVS surgeons in the state. The letter to the director of AIIMS-New Delhi requested hands-on training and practical guidance for faculty, nursing personnel, and paramedical staff to improve their capabilities in cardiac surgeries.
A proposal for a seven-day exposure visit and training session for faculty members at the AIIMS CTVS Department has also been submitted, alongside a request for an expert team from AIIMS to visit SCBMCH. This collaboration aims to equip the operation theatre and ICU with modern instruments and technology to enhance surgical outcomes.
Current Mortality Rates and Future Goals
The affidavit indicated a significant improvement in mortality rates, which decreased from 31% up to August 2025 to 17% by October 2025, thanks to proactive measures taken by hospital authorities. However, it was noted that five out of 29 patients who underwent open heart surgeries in September and October 2025 did not survive.
The Division Bench of Justice S.K. Sahoo and Justice V. Narasingh expressed the hope that measures will be implemented to reduce the mortality rate further, ideally aiming for a target closer to the all-India average of 7% for similar institutions.