From controversy to innovation: Assam’s Dr. Dhani Ram Baruah pioneers new heart treatment techniques

Dr. Dhani Ram Baruah, a pioneer in xenotransplantation, has introduced a groundbreaking heart treatment technique that could potentially replace pacemaker implantation and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). His latest innovation utilizes biomolecules extracted from edible medicinal plants native to Northeast India to restore heart function at a subcellular level.

According to doctors at the Dhani Ram Baruah Heart Institute, the new process revives impaired conduction pathways of the heart and clears arterial blockages, thereby improving cardiac health and extending patients' lifespans. Their studies, supported by gene sequencing, have identified single nucleotide alterations responsible for various diseases. Microarray analyses further reveal that overexpressed and downregulated genes disrupt metabolic functions, contributing to cardiovascular conditions.

Dr. Baruah has long opposed pacemaker implantation and CABG, arguing that they address symptoms rather than the root cause of cardiac dysfunction. He explains that reduced heartbeat rates are typically caused by impaired conduction systems, while high blood pressure, coronary blockages, and weakened myocardial function are primary contributors to heart failure.

His research suggests that insufficient blood supply leads to anaerobic respiration, triggering an intracellular calcium buildup and disrupting sodium pump functions. This imbalance reduces ATP synthesis, weakening the SA node's ability to generate electrical impulses, which in turn affects ventricular contraction, leading to arrhythmias and decreased cardiac output. In extreme cases, poor circulation to the brain can result in fainting or blackouts. While pacemakers regulate heartbeat, Dr. Baruah argues that they fail to correct these biochemical dysfunctions at the cellular level.

Similarly, coronary artery disease, often likened to cancer by medical professionals, stems from cholesterol, fat, dead cells, and platelet accumulation, leading to plaque formation that restricts blood flow. Instead of invasive surgical interventions, Dr. Baruah’s technique aims to restore cardiac health naturally by addressing underlying genetic and biochemical irregularities.

Dr. Baruah’s career has been marked by both groundbreaking innovation and controversy. In 1997, he performed India’s first xenotransplantation at his heart institute in Sonapur, Guwahati. The procedure involved transplanting a pig’s heart into a 32-year-old patient, Purno Saikia, who suffered from a ventricular septal defect. The 15-hour surgery resulted in Saikia's death within a week due to multiple infections and organ rejection, leading to Dr. Baruah’s arrest and a 40-day imprisonment.

Despite facing setbacks and years of isolation from the medical community, Dr. Baruah has remained committed to advancing alternative medical solutions. His latest research underscores his relentless pursuit of innovation in cardiac treatment, potentially reshaping the future of non-invasive heart care.