Presentations on Palpitation and Coronary Artery Disease by Leading Pakistani Cardiologist and Cardiothoracic Surgeon

"Palpitations is an abnormal sensation of pounding or fluttering or simply a sensation of an irregularity in the normal rhythm of the heart. For some patients medicines can temporarily suppress the symptoms. However a therapy that can permanently cure patients is available," said Dr. Azam Shafquat, Consultant Cardiologist and Assistant Professor at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Karachi. He was giving the presentation on "Palpitations" at the 'Signs, Symptoms and Care' a health awareness programme held on April 27, 2003 in Dubai.

Dr. Azam Shafquat, Consultant Cardiologist, AKUH delivers a lecture at Al-Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

"The heart has an electrical system that generates signals at regular intervals giving rise to the normal heartbeat. Abnormality in this electrical system gives rise to palpitations. An ECG during the symptoms can often provide the diagnosis," added Dr. Azam Shafquat. He explained that although some types of palpitations may not need to be treated others may be life threatening. Medications are not always effective and some may cause serious side effects.

Dr. Azam further added that in many patients with palpitations a non-surgical treatment, ablation therapy, can be utilized, "this is a one time permanent cure for palpitations and for this reason is the primary therapy for palpitations in some countries. The patient no longer needs to be on medications after this one-day procedure. This procedure is similar to angiography in that wires are passed from the leg into the heart where electrical signals are recorded. The area in the heart that is causing the palpitations is identified and treated."

The second speaker, Dr. Shahid Ahmed Sami, Associate Professor and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at AKUH, spoke about "Bypassing the Bypass Surgery". He said, "the incidence of coronary artery disease is increasing in underdeveloped countries. The disease maybe preventable by modification of risk factors and regular exercise."

A memento is presented to the Chief Guest, Maj Gen (R) Salim Ullah, Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to UAE by Mr. Sadruddin Inayatali, President Ismaili Council, UAE at the occasion of Signs, Symptoms and Care, a public health awareness programme organized by AKU in Dubai.

"At AKUH we have been performing coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery for the last seven years.  We have a comprehensive database for both these procedures and our outcome of treatment are similar and comparable to the best centres in the West," concluded Dr. Shahid Sami.

At the end of the programme Dr. Azam Shafquat and Dr. Shahid Ahmed Sami responded to questions from the audience.

The Chief Guest, His Excellency Major General (R) Salim Ullah, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to UAE, complimented AKUH for being a role model and a source of pride and inspiration for all Pakistanis living abroad.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, Ms. Talaat Tyabji, Director Marketing and Public Affairs, AKUH, said that AKUH is a philanthropic non-profit institution committed to deliver quality health care to all segments of society. This Academic Medical Center is a 654-bed facility being sequentially phased into service while at present 500 beds are available and intend to increase the numbers of beds in the coming years. AKUH has become a major referral center in Pakistan and has also started getting patients from Middle East, Bangladesh and East Africa.

AKUH is the principle teaching site of the Aga Khan University (AKU). AKU is part of Aga Khan Development Network, a group of private international development agencies, founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, which work in the developing countries of Asia and Africa.

AKUH has organized over 140 Signs, Symptoms and Care programmes in Karachi, which have drawn over 32,000 people, as part of its societal commitment to create awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment. Based on the success of these lectures and in response to the demand for such programmes, this was the sixth lecture in these series organized in United Arab Emirates.