Patients with chronic 100% arterial blockages are now finding renewed hope and health through advanced CHIP procedures performed at Gleneagles Hospitals
Mumbai, June 11, 2025: In a remarkable achievement, Gleneagles Hospital, Mumbai, has successfully performed CHIP (Complex High-Risk Interventional Procedures) on patients suffering from 100% blocked arteries, a condition often considered inoperable and life-threatening. These procedures, carried out on patients with severely weak heart function and multiple comorbidities, mark a breakthrough in cardiac care, especially for those previously denied treatment. With advanced infrastructure, cutting-edge tools like intravascular imaging, and expertise, Gleneagles Hospital has set a new benchmark in saving lives through high-risk angioplasty. The patients can resume their daily routine without any difficulty after the procedure.
In 2021, a 71-year-old man residing in Thane faced a significant health challenge when he was diagnosed with a heart condition. After undergoing anangiography, his doctor recommended an intervention, but the patient was determined to avoid surgery. “I was scared of the risks involved in surgery, so I opted for medical management,” he recalls. For the next four years, he managed his condition with medication, hoping to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. However, by 2025, his health had deteriorated noticeably. Despite his efforts to manage the condition, the severe symptoms became increasingly difficult to ignore. It was during this challenging period that he visited Dr. Rahul Gupta, a specialist known for his expertise in cardiac care. Upon evaluating his condition, Dr. Gupta strongly advised the patient to consider treatment, emphasizing that time was of the essence. At Gleneagles Hospital, he successfully underwent a chip procedure and is doing well now. There are many others like this patient whose lives have been saved by timely CHIP procedures.
These were not routine heart blockages. The patients treated had completely occluded arteries, 100% blockages that had been present for a long time, making them hard and extremely challenging to open. On top of this, one of the cases was severely complicated as the patient’s heart function was severely compromised, with ejection fractions as low as 15%, making him a high-risk candidate for any intervention. For such patients, bypass surgeries were ruled out due to risk, and routine angioplasties were considered too complex. Despite these hurdles, all patients were successfully treated, thanks to the hospital’s state-of-the-art biplane Cath lab, availability of advanced interventional tools, and a skilled multidisciplinary team. These patients are now having improved heart pumping and function and a better quality of life.
“Heart blockages often develop due to long-standing chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and lifestyle factors. Symptoms usually include chest pain, breathlessness, fatigue, and in many cases, they remain silent until the condition becomes critical. Treating these patients was a challenge not just because of their 100% blockages, but because their hearts were already too weak to withstand even basic, minor procedures. These are the kind of cases where most centers either refer the patient for high-risk surgery or, sadly, turn them away. But with CHIP procedures, which are a combination of advanced hardwares, skilled expertise, and international collaboration, we were able to open these tough blockages with precision and safety. With these procedures, patients not only survive but thrive. They begin to regain energy, their heart function improves over time, and they can return to living a life with dignity and hope. This advanced CHIP procedure is giving people their life back when they have almost lost it,” said Dr Rahul Gupta, Director- Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart Program, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai.
Dr Rahul added, “These CHIP procedure cases are not done everywhere because they require not just expertise but infrastructure and judgment. We regularly perform these challenging cases and, during this recent workshop, had the honour of collaborating with our Japanese colleagues, international experts in chronic total occlusions (CTOs). Their insights, combined with our experience, translated directly into patient benefit. It’s about ensuring that patients who were once told there was no hope can now look forward to a future.”
Patient said I could hardly believe I was getting a second chance without the fear of major surgery hanging over me,” he said, expressing his relief and gratitude. “I fought for four years, but I’m grateful I ultimately decided to seek treatment.”
This initiative not only reflects the hospital’s deep commitment to medical excellence but also serves as a ray of hope for heart patients who were once turned away due to the complexity of their condition. At Gleneagles Hospital, we have invested in world-class infrastructure that enables us to take on even the most challenging cases with confidence and precision. CHIP procedures are truly redefining what’s possible in cardiac care, giving patients a second chance at life,” concluded Dr Bipin Chevale, Chief Executive Officer, Gleneagles Hospitals, Parel, Mumbai.
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
