Global conference dwells on tackling cardiovascular disease through science, strategy & sustainability

Chandigarh, December 14, 2025: The two days 16th Global Cardiomersion Conference concluded with a powerful demonstration of the medical fraternity’s dedication to integrating scientific rigor with equitable healthcare delivery at Zirakpur on Sunday. The conference was held in collaboration with the Society for Heart Failure and Transplantation (SHFT) and endorsed by Indian association of cardiovascular thoracic surgeons (IACTS).

The conference, themed ‘New frontiers in heart and lung transplantation-innovation meets inclusion’,  provided a series of exhaustive deep dives into managing acute critical care by addressing the complexities of pediatric heart disease, and advancing strategies for high-quality, cost-effective heart failure management across all demographics.

The conference reaffirmed Cardiomersion’s integrated philosophy, demonstrating how the convergence of specialized expertise—from surgical challenges in pediatrics and acute shock protocols to digital technology and regenerative medicine—is essential to transforming lives and tackling the cardiovascular disease menace through science, strategy, and sustainability, said Dr. Deepak Puri, global chairman of Cardiomersion. Cardiomersion is a global group which was started in 2011 to promote an integrated approach to comprehensive cardiac care. The group foundational objectives are to spread awareness about comprehensive management of cardiovascular, thoracic and other lifestyle diseases.

Dr. Jabir president SHFT, and Dr. Manoj Durairaj, president IACTS also attended the conference.

The academic program on Day 2 commenced with a highly focused session on cardiogenic shock, dedicated to the precision of timely support and moderated by Dr. Jacob Abraham and Dr. Naveen Aggarwal.

Dr. Deepak Puri on his address emphasized the rapidly rising global burden of heart failure, noting that most Indian patients present with ischemic heart failure due to delays in seeking care after the onset of acute or chronic coronary artery disease.

Dr Puri also highlighted the resulting progression of many patients to end-stage heart failure, severely constrained by limited transplant facilities, logistical challenges, and the scarce availability of donor hearts. Furthermore, he pointed to the alarming increase in the necessity for lung transplants following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a facility currently offered by only a handful of centers across the country.

The session delved into critical care topics, starting with Dr. Naveen Aggarwal’s discussion on the clinical spectrum & early recognition of cardiogenic shock. This was followed by a comprehensive exploration of mechanical circulatory support with Dr. Jacob Jamesraj addressed the crucial question of when pharmacologic therapy is not enough, by detailing the pivotal role of temporary MCS in long-term management post-heart transplant.

Prof. Dr. Devagourou further elaborated on the technical spectrum of temp MCS, while Dr. Prince Kumar discussed the vital management of cardiogenic shock and team-based approach.

Dr. Amitabh Satsangi gave a presentation on the challenging management of fontan failure, a condition where standard medical therapies are often insufficient and advanced heart failure therapies are frequently required.

Dr. Swati Garekar then discussed the crucial aspects of recognizing advanced disease in children and defining appropriate referral criteria, setting the stage for Dr. Julius Punnen’s outline of the surgical challenges and practical realities of paediatric heart transplantation.

The intensive clinical focus continued in session 4 which was on holistic heart failure management. The session also provided vital updates on conventional and emerging clinical strategies by Dr. Rajesh Vijayvergiya, Dr. Ankur Ahuja, and Dr. HK Bali.