Tripura, 19 Nov 2025: Agartala Government Medical College and GBP Hospital has marked a major milestone in Tripura’s cardiac healthcare with the successful completion of its first Percutaneous Transluminal Septal Myocardial Ablation (PTSMA) on 15 November 2025. The procedure, used globally for the treatment of Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM), was performed in the hospital’s Cardiology Department and is being hailed as a landmark achievement for the state.
The first patient to undergo the procedure was a 46-year-old man suffering from severe HOCM and recurrent chest pain, a condition that had significantly limited his quality of life. HOCM is a genetic cardiac disorder in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, restricting blood flow and increasing the risk of arrhythmia, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. For many such patients, PTSMA is considered a crucial therapeutic option.
Until now, patients in Tripura requiring this specialised intervention were often referred to hospitals outside the state, placing considerable financial and emotional pressure on families. With this successful procedure, AGMC & GBP Hospital has taken an important step in expanding advanced cardiac treatment options within the state itself.
PTSMA involves injecting alcohol into a specific artery that supplies the thickened area of the heart, thereby reducing obstruction and improving blood flow. Hospital authorities confirmed that the patient responded remarkably well and is recovering quickly.
Doctors at the Cardiology Department have described this achievement as a “turning point” in their journey to provide advanced, specialist cardiac services to the people of Tripura. The successful implementation of PTSMA places AGMC & GBP Hospital among the select few centres in eastern India capable of handling such complex interventional cardiology cases.
Specialists also stressed the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment of HOCM, noting that lack of awareness often leads to underdiagnosis. Advances in healthcare infrastructure and specialised training have made it possible to bring this sophisticated intervention to the state.
This accomplishment has been hailed as a proud moment for Tripura, reflecting the growing medical capabilities of AGMC & GBP Hospital and the dedication of its Cardiology team. With this breakthrough, residents of the state can now access world-class cardiac treatment locally, marking a significant improvement in both healthcare accessibility and outcomes.
The procedure was conducted under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, making it completely free for the patient. The Health and Family Welfare Department provided the official confirmation.
The team behind the success includes Dr. Anindya Sundar Tribedi, Assistant Professor, Consultant Cardiologist and In-Charge HOD; Dr. Rakesh Das, Consultant Cardiologist; Dr. Manna Bhattacharjee, Junior Doctor; Dr. Argha Pratim Nath; Dr. Anwesha Debnath; Dr. Supratim Acharyya; Dr. Bulti Namah Das; Dr. Angela Debbarma; along with Cath Lab nurses Debabrata Debnath, Prankrishna Dev, Manas Datta and Titiksha Majumder; Echo Technician Kishan Roy; and Cath Tech Sanjay Ghosh.
