The Durdans Heart Centre celebrates 20 years of cardiac care this month. Having opened its doors for cardiac care in 1999, Durdans Heart Centre was one of the foremost initiatives to set up a dedicated Heart Centre concept in Sri Lanka.
Director, Medical Services at Durdans Hospital, Dr. Harsha Baranage said, “We are proud to be the most recognised Heart Centre in Sri Lanka which has performed over 12,000 surgical procedures and the feedback we receive from cardiac patients is testament to the patient care we have become renowned for in Sri Lanka.”
In 1994, Dr. W. S. Shantharaj and Dr. Neomali Amarasena began cardiac consultations at Durdans Heart Centre.
Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Neomali Amarasena said, “In the beginning the set up was quite different. There was a very basic echocardiogram machine, the general ICU and no dedicated coronary care unit.”
Matron Thilaka Sumanasekara said, “We got extensive training in cardiac units, theatre and ICUs.”
Consultant Physician Dr Vinitha Perera said, “The much needed unit – Heart Command Centre, probably the largest coronary care unit in Sri Lanka, was opened with a ceremony and a proud moment it was.”
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Nihal Kulathilake was the first to perform cardiac surgery at Durdans Heart Centre. Dr Kulathilake said, “I set out from the UK to re-define cardiac surgery in Sri Lanka. Together with the management we pursued excellence by elevating standards to be on par with international levels.”
Chairman of Durdans Hospital, Ajith E. Tudawe said, “From the beginning, the idea was to have world-class cardiac care right here in Sri Lanka at a time that heart patients were resorting to seeking cardiac surgical procedures and interventional procedures abroad.”
Consultant Cardiologist of Durdans Hospital, Dr. S. Mithrakumar said, “I have been associated with Durdans Heart Centre since 2001. What impressed me was the quality of care and treatment and the presence of good nursing care.”
Resident Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Kesava Dev said, “At Durdans Heart Centre we have the experience, technology and equipment to handle the entire spectrum of cardiac surgeries.”
Consultant Cardiologist Dr. W. S. Shantharaj said, “Where technology is concerned they make efforts to invest in the most cutting-edge technology to support cardiac diagnostics and treatment.”
Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Nihal Thenabadu said, “At present, the Heart Centre carries out most of the modern diagnostic techniques in cardiovascular disease.
It also carries out modern therapeutic procedures as coronary stenting, pacemaker implantation, ablation for arrhythmias and cardiac bypass surgery.”
Resident Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi said, “In the past year we achieved some of the most advanced treatment comparable with anywhere in the world.
Moving forward we would boldly embark on getting structural heart treatment, transcatheter heart valves, paravalvular leak closures, aortic septal defects, congenital heart disease, appendage and closure procedures, more development on stem cell cardiac applications and overall high standards that will set us apart as a landmark centre in cardiac care for the South Asian region.”