Division of Cardiology presents latest treatments and practices in cardiac surgery

By Michael Ford
University News Services

Virginia Commonwealth University's Division of Cardiology presented a wide-ranging overview of the current and developing treatments in cardiac surgery as part of its mission to share knowledge and methods with medical students, university faculty and practicing physicians from the community.

VCU Medical Center cardiothoracic surgeon Vigneshwar Kasirajan, M.D., assistant professor and chair of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in VCU's School of Medicine, was the featured speaker for the Division of Cardiology's Grand Rounds, a continuing medical education lecture attended by nearly four-dozen licensed physicians and medical students.

"Dr. Kasirajan's extensive training experience and expertise ranks him among the top cardiothoracic surgeons at academic medical centers in the U.S.," said George W. Vetrovec, M.D., professor and chair of the cardiology division at VCU and the VCU Medical Center.

Kasirajan's hour-long lecture called "Cardiac Surgery in 2004," discussed the evolutions of cardiac surgery, cardiac transplantation and the impact of new innovations in the treatment of adult cardiac patients. The presentation at the Richmond's Downtown Club was enhanced by numerous graphics and very detailed cardiac surgery images and made the case that the modern cardiac surgeon has a multitude of treatments and assist devices to treat cardiac conditions, long before heart transplantation must be employed.

Kasirajan asserts improvements in the way coronary bypasses are done using off pump techniques have reduced the risks of surgery and the need for blood transfusion is very low. "Outcomes from all forms of cardiac surgery are excellent," Kasirajan said. "In spite of the increasing complexity of procedures and increasing preoperative patient risk factors, the morbidity and mortality remain low. A successful outcome after heart surgery is no longer the exception, but a routine event." In addition to his VCU appointments, Kasirajan also is chief of cardiothoracic surgical services at McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center. He earned his medical degree at Madras Medical College, Madras, India and completed his internship and residency at Government General Hospital in Madras. His postgraduate medical education and training continued at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, in Cleveland, Ohio, as chief resident in general surgery, a fellowship in cardiothoracic transplantation and mechanical assist devices and appointment as administrative chief resident in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. The author or co-author of more than a dozen research articles in the last eight years, Kasirajan is currently involved in heart transplantation research with the United Network for Organ Sharing.

The VCU School of Medicine's cardiology division Grand Rounds is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and meets the criteria of VCU and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a continuing medical education activity.