JAMMU, Oct 10: Advances in cardiac care, including next-generation leadless pacemakers and minimally invasive structural heart interventions, were highlighted at a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme organised by PARAS Health Gurugram in association with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Jammu Chapter, on Saturday.
Titled “What Is New in Cardiology 2026”, the programme featured Dr Amit Bhushan Sharma, Senior Director and Unit Head of Interventional Cardiology at PARAS Health Gurugram, who discussed emerging technologies, complex clinical cases and advances in minimally invasive cardiac treatment.
A key focus of the CME was leadless pacing technology, particularly the world’s smallest retrievable leadless pacemaker, designed to provide long-term pacing support while allowing retrieval when clinically indicated.
Unlike conventional pacemakers, which generally use leads connecting the device to the heart and require a surgical pocket, leadless pacemakers are implanted directly inside the heart. The technology can help reduce complications associated with leads and surgical pockets while improving patient comfort and expanding treatment options.
Dr Sharma also discussed advances in structural heart interventions, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), MitraClip procedures and transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). These minimally invasive approaches are expanding treatment options for patients with complex cardiovascular conditions, including those who may be unsuitable for conventional open-heart surgery.
Drawing on his clinical experience, Dr Sharma presented challenging cardiac cases to explain how technological advancements, appropriate patient selection and procedural expertise are influencing treatment strategies. The discussions also highlighted the growing role of precision-based interventions in improving cardiovascular care.
Dr Sharma has headed the Department of Cardiology at PARAS Health Gurugram since 2017. A specialist in complex coronary interventions and structural heart procedures, he is credited with performing North India’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker implantation.
He completed his DM in Cardiology at KEM Hospital, Mumbai, and subsequently pursued advanced training in complex coronary angioplasty at Mount Sinai, New York, and structural heart interventions at Michigan State University, Lansing.
The programme also carried personal significance for Dr Sharma, who has strong family ties to Jammu and comes from a distinguished medical family.
His father, Dr DB Sharma, was a renowned paediatrician who headed the Department of Paediatrics at Government Medical College, Jammu, and later served at Batra Hospital. His mother, Dr Kumkum Sharma, is a pathologist and transfusion medicine specialist who headed the Blood Bank and Department of Transfusion Medicine.
The CME provided a platform for medical professionals to exchange knowledge and discuss developments in cardiac devices, imaging and catheter-based procedures. It also highlighted the importance of continued medical education and professional collaboration in keeping healthcare practitioners abreast of emerging treatment options.
