What is DM Cardiology?

What is DM Cardiology?

DM Cardiology (Doctor of Medicine – Cardiology) is a three year fulltime course conducted at various medical colleges and institutes of national importance. Cardiology is the branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Selection to the various medical colleges is by the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test – Super Specialty (NEET-SS), while that to institutes of national importance is by Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI CET). NEET-SS is conducted by the National Board Of Examinations In Medical Sciences, New Delhi. INI CET is conducted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The institutes of national importance are AIIMS, New Delhi, PGIMER, Chandigarh, JIPMER, Puducherry, NIMHANS, Bengaluru and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.

Eligibility for the entrance examinations for DM Cardiology is an MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree in General Medicine, Pediatrics or Respiratory Medicine. MD is a three year course taken after MBBS. MBBS is a four and a half year course with additional one year internship training. Admission to MBBS is through National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) and that to MD is through National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Postgraduate (NEET-PG).

Like all postgraduate medical courses, DM Cardiology involves both theoretical studies and practical experience in the hospital. DM residents provide care to all patients under their care with supervision from faculty. They are exposed to medical research by way of dissertation and publication of research papers. DM residents are trained in the performance of all tests related to cardiology like echocardiography (ultrasound study of heart), exercise ECG, cardiac catheterization, angiography and interventional procedures (special treatment procedures).

Cardiac catheterization involves introduction of small tubes known as catheters, into the heart through blood vessels, guided by continuous X-ray imaging, in a special procedure room known as cardiac catheterization laboratory. Angiography is visualization of heart and blood vessels by injecting radiocontrast medications into them using catheters and taking continuous X-ray images. Interventions are procedures like removal of blocks (angioplasty), device closure of defects of the heart, and enlargement of valves by balloon catheters. Balloon catheters are small tubes with sturdy balloons at the tip, which can be used to enlarged narrowed blood vessels and heart valves.