Dr AB Mehta shares his insights into TAVR Technology at Sentient Summit 2019

Dr AB Mehta disusses his experience with Nihar Mehta at the first edition of the Sentient Summit for adult structural heart & transcatheter therapies conducted on 8th & 9th of June 2019 .
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Interview Transcript:
Dr. Nihar Mehta: It is one of the biggest privileges for me to be here today, because I am in the presence of greatness - A legend of cardiology in India, none other than Dr. Ashwin (B) Mehta. A very warm welcome to you sir!
Sir, you have you've been one of the pioneers of cardiology in India. You have literally brought cardiology as we know it today in India; you've nurtured it from its infancy to what it is today; you've done the first of several procedures and still we see you at the TAVR summit sitting glued to your seat, not willing to even get up for this interview because you want to learn more. What is your passion sir? What drives you? We need to know that.
Dr. A.B. Mehta: So, you want to know the professional and trade secret?
Dr. Nihar: Of course, sir.
Dr. A.B.: First of all, thank you very much for a very generous introduction and I feel really flattered. You asked me a question, what drives me?
I think it is the field in which we both are. It is so exciting and everyday something or the other is happening; new things are coming in and the human mind is basically fundamentally very curious. Had there been no curiosity, we would not be here in the field of cardiology. We are enjoying the privileges which are the result of the curiosities of those big scientists, which resulted & culminated into the various kinds of innovations that we are enjoying.
My mind is curious and all the time I am keen to know what's happening and that there is my passion. So, I don't know whether I've answered your question fully, but basically it’s for me. I want to know why. That's why that I'm there all the time.
And a second thing - I'm focused. I have no other hobby and therefore my hobby is cardiology. And therefore I am in the field of Cardiology. I feel so engrossed all the time, that for me vacations are a waste of time.
Dr. Nihar: Sir. You are you one of the first few cardiologists in the country to do TAVRs. You have recently done one of the most complicated cases of TAVR through the subclavian route which is one of the first cases in India and probably one of the first few on the global level as well. How do you see the technology of TAVR? You've seen angioplasty going from A to Z now. What do you think about TAVR, because we are still at A here.
Dr. A.B.: Well, I think the problem is existent. No question about it. And with improving life expectancy, this problem is going to be faced more and more frequently. We work in the medical field. Our job is to relieve people from their miseries and protect them from sudden catastrophe or termination of life.
I am told by statistics that there are 17,000 and odd patients every year waiting for TAVR and the benefits don't reach that 17,000. To me, this figure is statistically correct, but there are so many ifs and buts between the cup of tea and the lips. Therefore it's not so simple in a country like India to deliver cost-wise, mindset-wise…all those things do play a part.
Dr. Nihar: Well sir. Coming off one of the biggest and successful conferences been held in India so far in cardiology… you were the chief organizing chairman of India Live 2019 which faced a tremendous overwhelming success…Coming from there, I want to know how you feel about the Sentient Summit 2019?
Dr. A.B.: I really honestly say it's outstanding. The talks are amazing! They are in-depth and everyone is talking. I feel that it's a stream and it's a natural flow of the subject being analyzed in-depth and everybody has contributed, the speakers, the faculty and everybody has contributed. To me this conference is the most memorable conference in my life.
Dr. Nihar: So, it's been a privilege talking to you and it's absolutely wonderful that I could have this time with you, thank you very much for doing this. Thank you, sir.
Dr. A.B.: Thank you.