New Delhi: A total of 218 deaths were recorded in the cardiology department of Rajiv Gandhi hospital here in the last two years, out of whom 101 were those patients who had undergone stent implantation and angiography procedures, the Delhi government informed the Assembly on Tuesday.
The city health department in a written response to a question also said a committee was set up recently to probe
deaths that have taken place in the coronary care unit (CCU) of the facility.
According to the response, based on data from medical record department and cardiological department, 70 deaths took place in 2020 and 148 fatalities in 2021. Out of these 218 deaths in the last two years, recorded in the cardiology department of Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, 101 were those patients who had "undergone stent implantation (PTCA) and angiography procedures (CAG)", it said.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked or stenosed coronary arteries allowing unobstructed blood flow to the myocardium.
Angiography or Coronary Angiogram (CAG) is a process where X-rays are used to study the condition of blood vessels in the arms, chest, or head.
According to the data, in 2022 till March 7, 17 patients had died in the cardiology department of the facility, who had undergone procedures like PTCA and CAG.
In response to another question, the Delhi health department said stents are not being purchased at RGSSH, but
these equipments are being used on an "imprest basis" on contractual rate pertaining to GP Pant Hospital.
An associate professor of cardiology, who was working on contractual basis at Delhi government-run Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, had been "terminated" from service after the death of three patients with heart blockage earlier this month, officials had said recently. He was sacked on orders from the Delhi Secretariat, a senior official had said.
Action against the doctor was initiated on March 10 before a four-member committee which was set up to review the matter, officials had said.
Also, in response to another question, it said, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, 3,793 patients were admitted at GTB Hospital, out of whom 1,545 had died and information is available for all patients who had been admitted.