“FFR can curb angioplasty menace”, sayd Dr Mathew Samuel

Zahabiya Khorakiwala speaking. Dr Prashant Jagtap (left) and Dr Mathew Samuel (right)

Andreas Gruentzig, a German Cardiologist performed world’s first angioplasty on September 17, 1977. Dr Mathew Samuel performed India’s first angioplasty on January 24, 1986. The sweet co-incidence is that, Dr Mathew is the disciple of Dr Andreas Gruentzig. Now, Dr Mathew is known as father of Angioplasty. He never kept the technique restricted to him. He has been trying to transfer his knowledge to other doctors.
Apart from being well-known as the Father of Angioplasty in India, Dr Mathew has got Dr. BC Roy National Award in Interventional Cardiology for the year 1996 from the President of India. He is Padma Shri. Dr MGR University has awarded him Doctor of Science. He has trained many cardiologists of India and all over South East Asia and Australia.
Dr Mathew was in city to inaugurate Wockhardt Heart Hospital on Saturday. Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) has brought a new revolution in heart care sector. Everytime when patient visited heart hospital, he was taken on the table and angioplasty was performed on him. But FFR now can identify whether the angioplasty should be performed or not. Dr Mathew feels this has brought change in overall heartcare.
From day 1, Dr Mathew started imparting training of angioplasty to all youngsters. In 1987 he was working with Apollo and Hinduja hospital. Then on every Thursday, Dr Mathew used to conduct training programme that lasted till 2 to 3 am. He started the programmes and for which he travelled a lot. In Nagpur too he visited 10 times and conducted programmes at Spandan, Arneja, Mahorkar along with Wockhardt. Dr Mathew runs a meeting programme called ‘India Live’. In the programme Dr Mathew along with the team members conduct angioplasty procedure live. The doctors sitting in their respective hospitals view it and place the questions.
“I conduct training programmes to train present medicos with newer advances in angioplasty plus I don’t want them to commit a mistake at the cost of somebody else’s life. I lend them my feet to stand and grow,” said Dr Mathew.
Why Dr Mathew chose medical profession? “We are the agriculturist. We did farming since generations. I am the first to go for medical profession. The reason was my  mother. It was in 1950, my mother was taking her mother for treatment of lungs at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellure. My mother was so impressed by the doctors, their compassionate approach that she decided to make me doctor. I was 6 months old. She imbibed in me the feelings of becoming good doctor who will serve the society. That teachings has not gone from my mind.
Before I touch a patient, I pray for that patient. We never depend upon our skills, we rely on skills of that almighty. That guards us against mistakes,” pointed Dr Mathew
Dr Mathew feels that medical profession has been commercialised. Institution misused trust of patients on doctors for commercial purposes. “The fine-fabric of doctor-patient relationship was destroyed, trust was eroded. It is very bad if we think comprehensively,” said a pained Dr Mathew.
The leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had commitment to do. We have to change. Especially doctors should be committed. Every patient in India is very trustworthy. We have to go one step further. If there is no tuning between husband and wife then the family gets ruined. Likewise if there is no relation between doctor and patient then everything will be devastated.

About health

“Indians are habitual of bad diet, having oily and fatty food. We don’t exercise. Once you pass the age of 50-55, about 90 per cent people give up exercise. Those 5 per cent who continues with exercise are very fit. Smoking, tobacco is very high in India. Tobacco, cigarette should be banned or they should be taxed so much. In Kerala the smoking is banned on streets even which is yielding results,” said Dr Mathew.
****************