Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has expressed concern over the rising mortality rate among patients undergoing open heart surgery at the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) wing of SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH), Odisha’s largest government-run healthcare facility in Cuttack, and has directed an audit to ascertain the causes.
According to hospital data, nearly 17 per cent of patients who underwent such procedures between January 2023 and August 2025 died after surgery. “The cause of death after open heart surgery, which is rising, needs a thorough investigation. Mortality risks may be lowered by engaging patients in supervised cardiac rehabilitation programmes, ensuring adherence to medication, and imparting lifestyle guidance,” observed a division bench comprising Justice SK Sahoo and Justice V Narasingh in its order Thursday.
Underlining that identifying the reasons for mortality is of ‘seminal importance’, the HC said such an exercise would go a long way in restoring the confidence among patients in opting for open heart surgeries at SCBMCH. Between January 2023 and August 2025, 385 surgeries were conducted at SCBMCH’s CTVS wing.
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Of those, 65 patients died after surgery, taking the mortality rate to 16.88 per cent. In 2023, 186 patients were admitted for open heart surgery. Of them, 21 left against medical advice. Out of 165 surgeries performed, 15 patients died after the procedure. In 2024, there were 181 admissions, and 46 patients left against medical advice.
Of the 135 surgeries conducted that year, 24 patients died. Between January and August 2025, 138 patients were admitted, and 53 of them left against medical advice. Out of 85 surgeries performed during this period, 26 patients died. The HC directed the medical superintendent of SCBMCH to furnish complete data on the current status of surviving open-heart surgery patients. It also asked the state government to constitute another team of ‘competent’ CTVS specialists in order to meet growing demand and reduce the financial burden on patients who are otherwise forced to opt for treatment in private hospitals. The bench further stressed the need for counselling patients at the time of admission to bring down the number of cases where patients leave against medical advice. The Health and Family Welfare department Secretary assured the HC that an audit of mortality causes would be carried out, if not already undertaken.
The HC directed the superintendent of SCBMCH to place on record the minutes of such a ‘Death Review Board’ or equivalent body by September 26, the date fixed for the next hearing.
