The Court ordered an audit of the cause of the mortality.
High Court Of Orissa
The Orissa High Court has expressed concern over the rise in the mortality graph of patients undergoing an open heart surgery at the Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery (CTVS) wing of SCB Medical College & Hospital (SCBMCH), the state’s largest government-run healthcare facility established during the British Raj, in Cuttack city.
The Court ordered an audit of the cause of the mortality.
Advertisement
Around 17 per cent of patients who underwent such medical procedures from January 2023 till August 2025 died post-surgery at the CTVS wing of the premier hospital.
Advertisement
“The cause of death after open heart surgery, which is rising, needs thorough investigation, and the mortality risks may be lowered by engaging such patients in a supervised cardiac rehab programme to improve physical function, guiding them to follow all medications, and imparting lifestyle instructions,” a Division Bench of Justice S K Sahoo and Justice V Narasingh stated in an order on Thursday.
The court said it need not be emphasised that the probe into the reason for mortality is of seminal importance, and it will go a long way in instilling confidence in the patients to opt for an open heart surgery at the SCBMCH, Cuttack.
In 2023, a total of 186 patients were admitted for open heart surgery, while 21 of them left against medical advice (LAMA). While 165 surgeries were conducted, 15 of them died post-surgery in 2023.
In 2024, a total of 181 patients were admitted for such surgery, and 46 of them left against medical advice. A total of 135 surgeries were conducted, while 24 died post-surgery.
In 2025, from January to August, 138 patients were admitted, and 53 left against medical advice. As many as 85 surgeries were conducted, while 26 died post-surgery.
In the last 30 months, as many as 65 patients who underwent open heart surgery at CTVS of SCBMCH died after surgery, while 385 surgeries were conducted during this period. The mortality rate of patients subjected to such procedures stood at 16.88 per cent.
”The Medical Superintendent, SCBMCH, Cuttack, shall furnish the full data of the present status of surviving open heart surgery patients. Every endeavor shall be made by the government to form another team of competent doctors in CTVS to conduct open heart surgery, taking into account its demand and costs likely to be incurred by the patients if it is conducted in any private hospital,” the Division Bench ordered.
Efforts shall also be made to counsel the patients who are taking admissions for open heart surgery so that there would be a reduction of LAMA cases, the Court suggested.
The Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, has assured the Court of doing an audit for the reasons of the mortality if it has not been done. ”Let the Superintendent, SCBMCH, Cuttack, place on record the minutes of the proceedings of such Death Review Board or whatever name, i.e., being used to arrive at the reason of such mortality by 26 September during the next hearing of the matter,” the order concluded.
Advertisement
