Health Minister C. Vijayabhaskar declared open a new vascular surgery unit at the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital (TMCH) here on Saturday.
The unit would be of great help to patients requiring surgical intervention to clear blocks in vessels, he said.
Vascular surgeons manage diseases of vessels - arteries and veins - by medical therapy, catheter procedures and surgical reconstruction.
He said the vascular surgery unit has been established here for the first time at a medical college hospital outside Chennai.
The Madras Medical College, Stanley Medical College and the Omandoorar Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai have the facility.
Any trauma of vessels could be managed more efficiently with the help of the unit.
Acute block and chronic block could be corrected with minimally invasive surgical procedures at the unit, the minister said.
Housing Minister R. Vaithilingam noted that requests have been made to establish rheumatology and diabetology units at the TMCH.
Director of Medical Education S. Geethalakshmi explained salient features of the new unit.
Collector N. Subbaiyan observed that more than Rs. 150 crore had been sanctioned in the past four years for the development of the TMCH and added that more specialities would come up soon.
Thanjavur MP K. Parasuraman and Mayiladuthurai MP R.K. Bharathi Mohan, MLAs M. Rengasamy (Thanjavur) M. Rethinasamy (Tiruvaiyaru) and R. Duraikannu (Papanasam), Mayor Savithri Gopal and Dean (in charge) M. Singaravelu spoke.