The World Health Organization recognises heart disease as the leading cause of death worldwide. Over the last half-century, the medical profession has responded to this enormous global burden by making great strides in the care and treatment of heart patients.

Expectations from cardiac care services at AKUH have been far surpassed, with the Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery programmes emerging as a leading referral centre for patients throughout Pakistan. The Khimji Building for Cardiac Services, rising on the Stadium Road campus behind the Private Wing building, will significantly enhance the Hospital's cardiac care capabilities and is testimony to its commitment to the care and treatment of heart patients.

Section of Cardiology

Organised as a section within the Department of Medicine, the Cardiology Section comprises six full-time faculty members who oversee the full range of modern cardiac clinical services, in addition to fulfilling the academic mandate of a university clinical programme, including research and specialist training.

Section of Cardiology (L to R): Dr. Azam Shafqaat, Assistant Professor; Dr. Khawar Kazmi, Associate Professor and Head of the Section; Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman Quraishi, Assistant Professor; Dr. Fahim H. Jafary; Assistant Professor; Dr. Najaf Nadeem, Senior Instructor; and Dr. Sajid Dhakum, Assistant Professor.

"We are providing state-of-the-art service in an academic set-up that the institution can be duly proud of," notes Dr. Khawar Kazmi, Associate Professor and Head of the Cardiology Section. Other members of the cardiology faculty include Assistant Professors Drs. Fahim H. Jafary, Azam Shafquat, Ata-ur-Rehman Quraishi and Sajid Dhakam, and Senior Instructor Dr. Najaf Nadeem.

The Section manages busy inpatient and consultation services, supplemented by world-class technological capacity in diagnostic angiography, echocardiography, interventional cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology. In addition, nuclear cardiology services have recently been launched in conjunction with the Department of Radiology. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation is also in place in collaboration with the Department of Physiotherapy. The Cardiology Section maintains a high academic profile through research output and fellowship training. Major research initiatives include large database projects on coronary angiography and angioplasty, in addition to prospective epidemiological studies on cardiac risk factors and outcomes. The three-year cardiology fellowship programme uses the Section's rigorous clinical and research resources to produce cardiology leaders of tomorrow.

Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Few other medical and surgical specialities are as closely allied as cardiology and cardiac surgery. The alliance is based on the unquestioned value of surgery for many cardiac conditions, including structural anomalies of the heart and diseases of the heart valves, and on the dramatic efficacy of coronary bypass surgery in coronary artery disease, the most prevalent form of heart disease.

Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery (L to R): Dr. Ghufranullah Khan, Senior Instructor; Dr. Shahid Sami, Associate Professor and Head of the Section; Dr. Saulat Fatimi, Assistant Professor; and Dr. Hasnat Sharif, Assistant Professor.

The skill of cardiac surgeons in operating within the chest  cavity also makes them experts in surgery of thoracic organs other than the heart, such as the lungs and the oesophagus, hence the encompassing appellation 'cardiothoracic surgery'. "We are handling large patient volumes using surgical and supportive surgical systems that meet international standards and enable us to perform cardiac surgical procedures with excellent outcomes," says Associate Professor Dr. Shahid Sami, who heads the Section. Other members of the Section include Assistant Professors Dr. Saulat Fatimi and Dr. Hasnat Sharif, and Senior Instructor Dr. Ghufranullah Khan.

Coronary artery bypass grafting comprises up to 70-80% of the Section's clinical volumes, about one-third of which are done on an emergency basis. Valvular heart disease, paediatric and thoracic cases make the remainder of the Section's surgical procedures. Major research initiatives include development of large clinical databases and research into cardiac surgical outcomes.