Promoting healthcare is of paramount importance for enhancing individuals' physical and mental well-being on a global scale. It is pivotal in advancing a nation's economy, development, and industrial progress. Many adept leaders employ care and treatment effectively to foster a healthy community. Nevertheless, the prevalence of lifestyle disorders such as hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels, and obesity has led to substantial healthcare challenges worldwide, with chronic conditions like serious cardiac ailments being prevalent.

In this context, Dr Sai Ravi Shanker, a committed cardiologist, stands at the forefront, delivering proficient cardiac care to patients. Dr Sai Ravi Shankar completed his MBBS from MKCG Government Medical College, followed by an MD in Medicine from SCB Medical College. He subsequently pursued Cardiology at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences. Since 2003, he has been associated with various corporate hospitals like Apollo Group of Hospitals, Medicover (MaxCure) hospitals, Continental Hospitals, and Virinchi Hospitals.

Dr Sai is an experienced cardiologist with nearly 22 years of experience in the field. He has performed over 15,000cath procedures and specializes in a wide range of complex angioplasty procedures, including primary angioplasty, bifurcation lesion, CTO lesion, TAVR, Cardiac imaging studies like OCT and IVUS , PDA and ASD closure, as well as the implantation of various pacemakers like CRT-D, Double chamber , AICD pacemaker. Dr Sai's primary focus is on further professional development in these areas.

Dr Sai was drawn towards cardiology quite naturally, given the immediate impact it can have on patient’s life saving them from major heart attacks. The professional satisfaction of seeing a patient recover from the brink of death was something that inspired him to pursue cardiology at the start. Originally from Karimnagar, Dr Sai has dedicated over a decade to providing medical care in the region. With over 21 years of experience, he has rendered service for over a decade in Karimnagar and has been based in Hyderabad for the last 10-12 years. His proficiency in managing acute cardiac emergencies, particularly in delivering timely treatment within the critical one to three-hour window for heart attack patients through primary angioplasty, under scores his commitment to patient care.

In Hyderabad, he has worked for several corporate hospitals and has also served as the CEO of a large organization. Currently, he is the Head of the Cardiology department and a Senior Consultant at Aster Prime Hospital. Beyond his professional commitments, Dr Sai actively engages in social and voluntary organizations. He holds membership in the Lions Club, and Rotary Club, and currently serves as the President of the Federation of Gated Community Cyberabad. Furthermore,

as the Executive Chairman of the Abdul Kalam ACT organization, he contributes to philanthropic and social initiatives, reflecting his dedication to community service alongside his professional pursuits in the field of cardiology.

Well, it hasn’t been long since Dr Sai has been employed by Aster Prime Hospital as its Head of the Department. But, there’s a dedicated team for the cardiology department, providing round-the-clock services to patients. At Aster Prime Hospital, team work allows the healthcare professionals, surgeons, and staff to perform emergency procedures, including primary angioplasty and pacemaker implantation, even during late nights. However, challenges are immense, be it any field. Shedding light on a few patient care challenges, Dr Sai says, “When patients come to us in critical conditions such as chest pain and breathlessness, with an ECG showing 100 percent block and STE elevation, and echocardiography indicating severely reduced heart pumping action (as low as 30-35 percent), it presents a major challenge. Taking these serious cases to the cath lab for an angiogram reveals 100 percent blockage in the coronary artery, further complicating matters. The patient's instability, with blood pressure as low as 80/60, makes performing primary angioplasty a challenging yet crucial procedure. Our clinical expertise is of utmost importance in these situations”.


There can be ‘n’ number of ways leading to cardiology problems, hence determining the appropriate treatment plan for a patient is never easy. But, according to various events respective to cardiology healthcare Dr Sai asserts, “In case of a heart attack, prompt transfer to the Cath lab is crucial. We perform thrombectomy and stent placement if the coronary artery is blocked. For patients with heart failure and reduced cardiac function, our facility offers advanced treatments such as Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with Defibrillator (CRTD) and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator(ICD). Additionally, we provide cutting-edge interventions for resistant hypertension, utilizing minimal pharmacotherapy to effectively manage elevated blood pressure. Our facility also provides advanced interventions for resistant hypertension and palpitations. Additionally, we offer non-surgical closure of heart defects such as Atrial Septal Defects (ASD) and Patent Ductus Arteriosus(PDA), as well as TAVR for aortic valve stenosis”.

Precisely, the main risk factors for heart attacks include mental stress, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, smoking, and inadequate sleep. Hence, certain lifestyle modifications are essential for maintaining optimal heart health and preventing cardio- vascular diseases. It's also important to manage hypertension, blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol levels, and to have regular check-ups if there's a family history of heart attacks. In cardiology, Dr Sai prioritizes protocol based treatment using evidence-based medicine. Ethical practice dictates that interventions such as stent placement or bypass surgery are only pursued when essential. The strict adherence to treatment protocols and ethical standards at Aster Prime Hospital has led to better patient outcomes. This approach ensures that patients receive the appropriate medications for conditions such as heart failure, heart attack, and hypertension.

Dr Sai has been recognized many times for his skills and interest in the cardiology space. To name a few are- ‘Young Investigator Award’ from the Cardiology Society of India, Delhi, ‘Vidya Ratna Award’ from the Telangana government, and he was even honored as the Best Cardiologist by the Times of India. Additionally, he has received multiple awards from prestigious organizations, including the BMJ (British Medical Journal) and the Abdul Kalam Award. Dr Sai is also a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology and has authored two books and seven journals on cardiology. Picturing the future, he concludes, “Thanks to the almighty for providing me such a great opportunity in my cardiology practice since 2003. I endeavor to continue building upon my skills & expertise”.