{{TAG_OPEN_span_12}Kathmandu. Senior cardiologist Dr. Smriti Shakya said that it is necessary to spread the message to the general public that the advanced treatment technology available in the world is now possible in Nepal as well.

She said that she returned to Nepal after completing a fellowship on structural cardiac intervention from Israel. She has been working as an interventional cardiologist at Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center of Maharajgunj-based Teaching Hospital for about seven years.

“I have just returned to Nepal from Israel after completing a fellowship in modern technology related to structural heart intervention,” she said, adding, “Now that I am working at Manmohan Center, I will take initiative for the necessary preparation and management to operate such advanced treatment service here.” ’

Stating that structural cardiac intervention is a modern method of treating heart valves or structural problems without major heart surgery, she said that efforts would be made to provide world-class treatment in Nepal when patients need such treatment come to the Manmohan Center and see the need and suitability of this treatment.

“My wish is to reduce the compulsion of Nepali patients to go abroad for advanced treatment and to be able to take advantage of the new technology available in the world while staying in Nepal. Therefore, the compulsion to go abroad for such treatment will definitely end,” she said, “In the field of cardiology, in the last few years, there has been a rapid development of cutting-edge technology and treatment methods in structural cardiac disease and structural cardiac intervention. In particular, treatment techniques such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) have created new possibilities in the treatment of some complex diseases related to the heart. Therefore, with the aim of gaining more expert knowledge and practical skills about these advanced technologies and treatment methods, I got the opportunity to gain more in-depth knowledge and practical experience of cutting-edge cardiac intervention technologies such as TAVI-Transcatheter Edge-to-Age Repair (TIER) from Sheba Medical Center, which is known for its globally reputed and cutting-edge medical technology. ’

She said that structural cardiac intervention technology is very effective and a boon for patients who may experience complications such as narrowing or leaking of heart valves due to age, other complex diseases, or because of high risk, and in many cases, patients are not in a position to perform surgery by cutting the heart due to age, other complex diseases, or because of the high risk. “Through this method, a damaged heart valve can be repaired or a new valve can be replaced by sending a small pipe through a vein in the thigh without cutting the chest,” she said, “In short, ‘structural cardiac intervention’ is the method of successful treatment of heart valves and structural problems without surgery.” ’

Stating that she reached Israel for studies risking at the height of the war, she said that she decided to complete the fellowship not only for personal career development but also to bring world-class new technology and treatment methods in Nepal, to provide access to modern treatment to Nepali patients and to use her knowledge and skills to raise the standard of cardiology service in Nepal.