Adjunct Professor of Cardiology
The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University (State Medical University)
Senior Consultant, Interventional Cardiologist
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Director
Cardiac Catheterization Services and Interventonal Cardiology, Hindu Mission Hospital
Lead Cardiologist,
Center for OncoCardiology
Center for OncoCardiology
Apollo Speciality Hospital
Teynampet, Chennai
Former Cardiologist to the Governor
Tamil Nadu State, India
Dr Rakesh Gopal is a Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist attached to Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Chennai. He heads the first ever Oncocardiology Center in the Asia Pacific region at Apollo specialty Hospital. He has also been serving as the Director of Interventional Cardiology at the Hindu Mission Hospital since 2011. Additionally, Dr. Rakesh has held the esteemed position of Cardiologist to the Governor of Tamil Nadu until 2016. He champions the cause of No Re-use of disposable materials in interventional procedures.
Expertise Highlights
Rotablation Coronary micro drilling for blocks that can’t be opened by balloons due to heavy concretions and long standing blocks especially for failed bypass patients.
Angioplasty for lower limb critical ischemia, foot ulcer for surgical rejects with below popliteal disease. Limb salvage angioplasties for patients posted for amputation.
Bifurcation angioplasty for arteries that have sizeable branches that could be in jeopardy by conventional angioplasty.
Oncocardiology Center: Established the first Oncocardiology Center in the Asia Pacific Region at Apollo Specialty Hospital, Chennai.
Experience
In Clinical Research
- Certified in Good clinical practice
- Good knowledge of computers and experience liasing with software firms in development of high end operational medical software currently in use at major institutes of cardiology. Has developed and tested own software.
- All duties and responsibilities as an investigator in international randomized clinical trials.
- Experience in conducting studies in collaboration with three International Universities: Maxplanc University, Clinique Pastuer, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Indian Council of Medical Research.
- Editor of the book Cardiovascular Interventional Trials Update, published by Asia Pacific Interventional Cardiology India Educational Trust and Mathew Foundation
In Diagnostics
- Right and Left Heart Catheterization
- Exercise Testing
- Echo Cardiography – Trans Thoracic, Trans Esophageal, Contrast Echo, Stress Echo Cardiography and Myocardial Strain Rate Imaging.
- Cardiac CT and CT Coronary Angiography
As Investigator / Co Investigator
- Aristotle study
- Pixel Trial, randomized trial of direct stenting versus pre dilatation and stenting in small vessel coronary disease
- E Cypher registry
- Decode Trial, comparison of Sirolimus drug eluting stent with non coated stents in diabetic patients
- Indicor study on comparison of Paclitaxel eluting Taxus stent and Coroflex please stent
- Family study of patients of Indian origin with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and novel mutations, in association with Max Plank Institute of Physiological
- Research of Germany.
- Comparison of Vascular Closure Devices, Perclose, Angioseal, Closure PAD versus digital
- compression.
- Project on prevention of contrast induced nephropathy in patients receiving high dose radio contrast agents – Ongoing.
- Randomized trial of weekly oral Azithromycin versus daily oral Penicillin in prevention of recurrence of rheumatic fever.
- Randomized controlled trial of oral Pefloxacin , Amoxycilline, Cotrimoxazole in respiratory tract infections.
- Immunological characterization of Brugia malayi micro filariae, in association with London school of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
- Prospective study of haemotological role in snake bites.
- Research assistant in Filariasis Chemotherapy Unit, Indian Council of Medical Research FCU, Medical College, Alleppey.
Interventional Cardiology
- Proficiently skilled in All Complex Coronary Interventions, including Rotablation, Bifurcation Angioplasty, Chronic Total Occlusions, Left Main Stenting, Cutting Balloon, IABP assisted procedures, Distal Protection Devices, Graft Interventions and Primary PCI.
- Peripheral Angioplasty, Renal Angioplasty, Carotid Interventions. Expertise in limb salvage procedures and below popliteal disease angioplasty.
- Interventions for Valvular Heart Disease, Mitral, Aortic, Pulmonary Balloon Valvotomies, Initiation for Trans Aortic Valve replacement.
- Good expertise with Trans Septal puncture.
Alma Mater
Fellowships
- FRCP – RCPS, Glasgow, UK
- FESC – Europeans Society of Cardiology
- Associate Fellow APSIC – Asia Pacific Society for Interventional Cardiology
Academic Qualification
- DNB Cardiology – National Board of Examinations, India
- DM Cardiology – SCTIMST, Trivandrum, India
- MD (Medicine) – MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, Orissa, India
- MBBS – TD Medical College, Alleppey, Kerala, India
Professional Memberships
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- American College of Cardiology
- European Society of Cardiology
- American Heart Association
- Cardiological Society of India
- Asia Pacific Society for Interventional Cardiology
Alma Mater
Dr. Rakesh Gopal has good exposure to computer applications, medical software development and interventional cardiology
website design. Worked with Softlink International, Pune for medical software development used worldwide, including Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York.
Overseas Exposure
Dr. Rakesh Gopal has served as a visiting faculty to overseas clinics and universities in Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uganda,
Rwanda, Liberia, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia.
Teaching Experience
Dr. Rakesh Gopal has more than 15 years of experience teaching Cardiology since 1998, at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute and at the Apollo Hospital Chennai Diplomate of National Board program. He has been serving as Adjunct Professor of Cardiology, The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University since 2015.
Dr. Rakesh is available at Apollo Speciality Hospital, Teynampet
Please fill the information below to get a call back from
Dr. Rakesh’s office
Dr. Rakesh’s office