Announcement
Apollo Hospitals Guwahati announced that on July 9, 2026 it successfully performed the first Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) closure procedure in Northeast India. The intervention, carried out by a team led by Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist Dr Rituparna Baruah together with Dr Dibya Jyoti Dutta, Dr Chandra Kumar Das and Dr Chandra Prakash Thakur, was completed through a small catheter without open‑heart surgery.
Clinical Significance
LAA closure is a one‑time, minimally invasive technique that permanently seals the left atrial appendage, preventing blood clots formed by atrial fibrillation from travelling to the brain and causing stroke. The procedure eliminates the need for lifelong anticoagulant therapy, which is unsafe for patients with a history of intracranial bleeding.
Patient Details
The inaugural case involved a 66‑year‑old male who had previously suffered a brain haemorrhage that was attributed to the blood‑thinning medication prescribed for his irregular heartbeat. Because long‑term anticoagulation was deemed unsafe, the cardiac team recommended LAA closure. The operation was reported as a complete success and the patient is now recovering under the hospital’s care.
Regional Impact
According to Dr Rituparna Baruah, the achievement brings world‑class cardiac care to the Northeast, removing the necessity for patients to travel to metropolitan centres such as Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai for this specialised treatment.
Apollo Hospitals Group Overview
Apollo Hospitals was founded by Dr Prathap Reddy in Chennai in 1983 and has grown into the world’s largest integrated healthcare platform, operating 76 hospitals with more than 10,400 beds, over 6,600 pharmacies, 264 clinics, 2,182 diagnostic centres and more than 800 tele‑medicine centres. The group has performed over 300,000 angioplasties and 200,000 surgeries, and employs approximately 120,000 family members dedicated to patient care.
Disclaimer
The release was distributed through PRNewswire under an arrangement with Apollo Hospitals; PTI does not assume editorial responsibility.