Mizoram open-heart surgery has marked a major breakthrough in the state’s healthcare system, with doctors at the state-run Zoram Medical College and Hospital (ZMC&H) successfully performing the first-ever open-heart surgery at the institution. The landmark procedure was carried out on a 69-year-old patient with severe coronary artery disease, highlighting the growing capacity of Mizoram’s lone medical college to provide advanced cardiac treatment locally.
The operation, performed on Wednesday, involved coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a complex procedure used to improve blood flow to the heart when major coronary arteries are blocked. Hospital officials described the surgery as successful, with the patient subsequently shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for close monitoring and post-operative care.
Complex surgery performed at Zoram Medical College
The patient had suffered a heart attack around six months ago and was later diagnosed with triple-vessel disease. The condition is a serious form of coronary artery disease in which three major coronary arteries are affected by blockages, making timely and specialised treatment essential.
The six-and-a-half-hour operation was led by resident cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Mary Hmingthantluangi, with assistance from Dr Intekhab Alam, a cardiothoracic surgeon from Apollo Excel Hospital in Guwahati. The collaboration brought together local expertise and specialised support from outside the state for the challenging procedure.
During the CABG procedure, the patient’s heart was temporarily stopped while a heart-lung machine maintained essential circulation and oxygenation. Surgeons created new routes for blood flow around the blocked arteries using the patient’s own blood vessels.
A saphenous vein taken from the patient’s leg and the left internal mammary artery from the chest were used to create the bypasses. After the grafts were completed, normal cardiac activity was restored.
Mizoram open-heart surgery reflects stronger medical infrastructure
The successful operation represents more than a single medical achievement. It demonstrates the progress made in strengthening specialised healthcare facilities at ZMC&H, the state’s only medical college and a key referral centre for patients across Mizoram.
The surgery required coordinated work involving cardiothoracic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, cardiologists, specialised nurses and operating theatre personnel. Cardiologist Dr Lalthafala monitored the patient during the operation, while the anaesthesiology and nursing teams supported the complex procedure.
The visiting surgeon also praised the preparation and coordination of the hospital’s surgical, anaesthesiology, nursing and other support teams. Hospital authorities continued to closely monitor the patient after the operation.
A step toward accessible cardiac care
The achievement is particularly significant for patients who previously had to travel outside Mizoram for major cardiac surgery. The availability of open-heart procedures within the state could reduce the need for patients and their families to undertake expensive and difficult journeys to larger medical centres elsewhere.
Plans to expand cardiac facilities at ZMC&H had already been announced by the state government. In May 2025, Health Minister Lalrinpuii said an operation theatre was being installed at ZMC&H in Falkawn to facilitate open-heart surgery. She said such services would help reduce the financial burden on patients.
At that time, the minister noted that open-heart surgery could cost around Rs 8 lakh at private hospitals, compared with an estimated Rs 1.5 lakh at ZMC&H. The state has also been expanding healthcare coverage through the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme, which provides financial protection for eligible beneficiaries.
Mizoram expands its cardiac care capabilities
The latest development follows another important milestone in Mizoram’s cardiac healthcare sector. In June 2026, doctors at a private hospital in Aizawl successfully performed the state’s first transcatheter aortic valve implantation, or TAVI. Unlike conventional open-heart surgery, TAVI replaces a diseased aortic valve through a catheter inserted through an artery.
Together, these developments indicate that patients in Mizoram are gaining access to increasingly advanced cardiac interventions closer to home. The first successful open-heart operation at ZMC&H also provides an important foundation for developing more comprehensive cardiac surgery services at the government medical institution.
For Mizoram, the achievement is therefore both a medical milestone and an important step toward self-reliant healthcare. The successful CABG procedure demonstrates that the state’s medical infrastructure and specialist teams are increasingly capable of handling complex cardiac cases, potentially improving access to life-saving treatment for patients across the state.
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