PGI operationalises dedicated cardiac emergency at Advanced Cardiac Centre

Chandigarh: PGI Monday operationalised a dedicated Cardiac Emergency at its Advanced Cardiac Centre (ACC), aiming to end the delays caused by shifting heart attack patients between departments — a factor doctors said had historically contributed to higher mortality.Medical experts noted that the first two hours after a heart attack — the "golden hour" — are critical, yet many patients currently reach specialists only after four to five hours due to fragmented emergency pathways. With the new system, cardiac patients will bypass the general medicine emergency and receive immediate attention from cardiologists.
The newly created unit has 20 dedicated beds for acute cardiac cases. "With the 20 beds in place and additional manpower being arranged, we will be able to manage the emergency load effectively," said Prof Rajesh Vijayvergia, in-charge of the Cardiac Emergency.The facility received its first four patients on the opening day, and officials expect numbers to increase as awareness spreads. The streamlined pathway is expected to cut time-to-treatment for life-threatening cardiac events, ensuring patients are met by specialists as soon as they reach the hospital.