The Institute of Cardiac and Aortic Disorders (ICAD) at SIMS Hospital on 19th September inaugurated Aortic Aneurysm Centre (AAC) for treating a gamut of Aortic diseases in India.

The Centre was inaugurated by The Hindu Publishing Group Chairman N Ram in the presence of SIMS Hospital Vice President Dr Raju Sivasamy and ICAD Director Dr V V Bashi on the occasion of World Aortic Disease awareness day on 19th September. Talking to reporters, Dr Bashi said there was an increase in the number of patients with aortic diseases in India. About three to four lakh people suffer from various types of Aortic Aneurysms in India every year of which only 1,000 people were getting treated.

The prime objective of this AAC was to create awareness among public and surgeons alike about Aortic Diseases. ''Awareness and advanced treatment modalities are the key factors in bringing down aortic diseases in India.” Dr Bashi said. He said acute aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection was a dreaded complication which occur in more than about 3-4 lakhs of people in India every year. Aortic dissection is a life threatening complication that needing treatment within 24 hours, failing which the patient will die.

''In our country the awareness about aortic diseases is the least among public. If the disease can be diagnosed early, most of the patient can be treated successfully, with success rate of more than 95 per cent', he said. The World Aortic Disease Awareness day was celebrated along with other countries across the globe to create awareness among the public, he said. ''From India, we are the only center which is participating in this event. Our hospital is providing free screening programme for one month, for patients who are at risk for aortic disease'', Dr Bashi said.

The AAC was aimed at creating awareness among the people to control the factors which cause this problem like proper control of blood pressure, avoidance of smoking, exercise, controlling obesity and saving people who were at risk especially in some family where there was history of aortic aneurysm.