Dr. M.K. Moosa Kunhi
Lead Surgeon — Heart, Lung & Vascular Surgery
Paediatric & Adult Cardiac Surgery
MBBS · MS · M.Ch (Cardio-thoracic & Vascular Surgery) · F.I.A.C.S
About Dr. M.K. Moosa Kunhi, Heart Surgeon in Chennai
Dr. M.K. Moosa Kunhi is a heart surgeon in Chennai with 37 years of clinical experience in paediatric and adult cardiac surgery. He is Lead Surgeon for Heart, Lung and Vascular Surgery at Meridian Hospital, Kolathur.
An alumnus of Calicut Medical College, Kerala, he spent a considerable part of his professional life at the Indian Railway Headquarters Hospital, Madras, where he served as Chief Cardiac Surgeon. He has been involved in more than 16,000 open heart surgeries, and has been instrumental in advancing paediatric and neonatal cardiac surgery in India.
He has worked as a guest heart surgeon at the German Heart Institute in Berlin, one of Europe’s largest heart surgery hospitals, and has undertaken advanced training in heart transplantation and artificial heart surgery. Throughout his career he has worked to make world-class cardiac procedures more economical, safe and accessible to patients in India. He practises as part of Meridian’s cardiology and cardiac surgery team in Chennai.
Firsts in Indian cardiac surgery
Two techniques now standard across India were introduced here first.
First in India to introduce the Octopus Stabilizer System — 1997
The system that made beating-heart bypass surgery practical. Beating-heart bypass is now the most common form of bypass surgery in India and worldwide.
First in India to introduce the bileaflet heart valve — 1992
Now a standard valve prosthesis used worldwide.
Among the first Indian heart surgeons trained in modern artificial heart technology
Trained at the German Heart Institute, Berlin. Invited from Asia in 2010 for specialist LVAD training at IKEM in Prague.
Landmark and rare surgeries
Cases of unusual complexity performed over the course of his career.
Asia’s smallest premature baby to undergo heart surgery
Successfully operated on a 700 gram premature newborn, in 2003.
Rare cardiac yolk sac germ cell tumour
Operated on a two-year-old child from Dubai with a tumour involving both the inside and the outside of the heart.
Intracardiac foreign-body removal
Removed a bullet fragment lodged deep inside the heart of a patient from Sudan, using a magnet.
Beating-heart bypass on an 18 kg patient
Performed in 2003 on an adult patient of unusually small stature, weighing 18 kg and standing 90 cm tall.
Emergency beating-heart bypass after cardiac arrest
Performed on a patient who had suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a shopping mall.
Removal of a 4 kg mediastinal teratoma
Surgery to remove a massive four-kilogram lung and mediastinal tumour.
Complex redo heart surgery
Performs highly challenging repeat cardiac surgeries, including fourth-time redo procedures.
Heart operations performed
Bypass surgery
Heart valve surgery
Children’s heart surgery
Aortic surgery
Surgery for failing hearts
Including hearts with pumping power as low as 15% ejection fraction.
Lung, chest and vascular surgery
Consultation hours
Hours may vary. Please confirm on 044 6666 9910 before travelling.
Common questions
How many heart surgeries has Dr. Moosa Kunhi performed?
He has been involved in more than 16,000 open heart surgeries across a 37-year career in paediatric and adult cardiac surgery.
Does he operate on children and newborn babies?
Yes. He has been instrumental in advancing paediatric and neonatal cardiac surgery in India, and has operated on a premature newborn weighing 700 grams. Meridian performs ASD and VSD closure, TOF repair, Fontan and single ventricle repairs, arterial switch operations and B-T shunts.
What is beating-heart bypass surgery?
It is bypass surgery performed while the heart continues to beat, rather than stopping the heart and using a heart-lung machine. Dr. Moosa Kunhi introduced the Octopus Stabilizer System that makes this possible to India in 1997, and it is now the most common form of bypass surgery in India and worldwide.
Can he operate on patients other hospitals consider high risk?
Meridian’s cardiac surgery service covers high-risk bypass on failing hearts, including hearts with pumping power as low as 15% ejection fraction, bypass surgery for patients in kidney failure, and repeat cardiac surgery including fourth-time redo procedures. Bring previous reports and angiogram films to the consultation.
Where is Dr. Moosa Kunhi available in Chennai?
He consults at Meridian Hospital, Kolathur, North Chennai, which serves patients from Perambur, Villivakkam, Madhavaram, Retteri and the surrounding areas. Call 044 6666 9910 to book.
At a glance
Experience
37 years
Open heart surgeries
More than 16,000
Speciality
Heart, lung and vascular surgery — paediatric and adult
Hospital
Meridian Hospital, Kolathur
Training & appointments
Calicut Medical College, Kerala
Chief Cardiac Surgeon, Indian Railway Headquarters Hospital, Madras
Guest heart surgeon, German Heart Institute, Berlin
LVAD training, IKEM, Prague — 2010
Also in cardiac sciences
Dr. Surendhar GInterventional Cardiologist Dr. G. ShanthoshConsultant CardiologistServing
Kolathur · Perambur · Villivakkam · Madhavaram · Retteri
