Dr. Vithala Surya Prakasa Rao, MD, DM (PGIMER), FACC, FSCAI, FESC, has been practicing clinical and interventional cardiology for over 35+ years. He has performed more than 40,000 Coronary Interventions, 15,000 Radial Procedures, and 1,500 CTO PCI procedures, the largest number in Asia.
Dr. Rao pioneered the Japanese sutureless technique in India for clearing 100% blocked coronary arteries (CTO) without bypass surgery. This benefits young, elderly, and post-bypass patients by avoiding bypass surgeries. The technique’s popularity has helped many underprivileged patients avoid open-heart surgeries. His active involvement in developing indigenous hardware for CTO PCI highlights his commitment to advancing interventional cardiology.
Dr. Rao is well-known in the interior tribal and coal belt areas of Bhadradri Kothagudem District for his ethical, dedicated, and committed service over the last 30 years. He regularly visits these areas, performing preventive screenings, follow-ups, and complex angioplasties, bringing advanced treatments to the district. He has received much applause from the Singareni Coal family for this service.
- MD - Andhra University
- DM in Cardiology - PGI Chandigarh
- Care Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad: 2019 - Present
- Head of the Department, Cardiology
- Senior Interventional Cardiologist
- Apollo Hospitals, Hyderguda, Hyderabad: 2011 - 2019
- Head of the Department, Cardiology
- Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
- Global Hospitals, Hyderabad: 2004 - 2011
- Senior Interventional Cardiologist
- Yashoda Hospitals: 1998 - 2000
- Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
- Radial Interventions
- Complex CTO Interventions
- CHIP PCI (Complete Hybrid Revascularization)
- Left Main and Bifurcation PCI
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements
- Structural Heart Interventions
- Rotational Atherectomy, Orbital Atherectomy, and LASER (ELCA)
- Image Guided Coronary Interventions using IVUS and OCT
- Post-CABG Interventions
- Ultra Low Contrast Interventions in CKD patients
- Founder Member & Course Director: CACTO (Complex Angioplasty and Chronic Total Occlusion) since 2006
- Founder Member & Course Director: IJCTO (Indo Japanese Chronic Total Occlusion) since 2013
- Committee Member for the Heart Failure Society
- Advisory Member for EKALAVYA Grameena Vikas Foundation
- Member of the Indian Society of Cardiology
- Ex-Director of Imaging Physiology Council of India
- Ex-CSI State President
- Treated SCCL Coal Belt patients and families for nearly two decades with significant success in percutaneous interventions, heart failure devices, medical management, and other non-coronary interventions, achieving phenomenal outcomes and follow-up.
- Actively associated with the state-run Society, contributing to India’s primary care and prevention programs.
- Educated millions through media on cardiac care and prevention, teaching communities, medical, and paramedical fields in simple language, and creating widespread health awareness. A popular writer for health education in cardiac care.
- Earned a special reputation for mastering and pioneering techniques as a mentor in interventions for complex coronary procedures (clearing hard blocks without bypass using a sutureless Japanese Technique) in treating chronic total occlusions (CTO).
- Saved numerous lives during the COVID-19 pandemic by delivering timely treatment for critical illnesses. Ensured uninterrupted emergency care and extended free support to frontline workers and underserved communities.
- Global CTO Algorithm: Retrograde CTO PCI Tips & Tricks – CSI 2023 Chapter
- Technical Options for Uncrossable CTO – International Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, 5(4):86–89 (AASCIT) 2018
- Durable Polymer vs Bioabsorbable Polymer Drug-Eluting Stents in Right Coronary Artery CTO – Science Domain, Oct 2017
- Safety and Performance of Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent with Biodegradable Polymer: A Retrospective Analysis in Real-World Population – WJCD, Vol 7, No 5 (ID 1910655)
- Awareness & Education Article – Jet Airways Magazine 2017
- Putting it all together: Global Approach to CTO – JICC-2016-85
- Percutaneous Intervention for Subclavian CTO – JICC-2016-47
- Pattern of Vascular Remodeling after Recanalization of CTO – Long-term Angiographic Follow-Up – JICC 2016
- Uncrossable CTO Lesion – Abstract, Euro PCR 2015, Paris
- Spontaneous Dissection PTCA with DES Short-Term Follow-Up and Case Study: Surgical Retrieval of Broken Covered Stent Shaft in a CTO PCI – JACC, May 5, 2015 (Vol 65)
- Technical Options for Uncrossable Chronic Total Occlusion – JACC, NASTICA Trial, Slender Catheter Systems 2015
- Bifurcation Angioplasty – JICC-2013-06
- Bifurcation Stenting by Modified Mini Crush Technique – ICC 2013
- Acute on Chronic CTO Interventions of Culprit Vessel in Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction – A Novel Finding – Catheterization & Cardiovascular Intervention, May Supplement 2013
- 276 CTO Interventions Follow-Up – Abstract, Euro Interventional Supplement
- Dual Source Computed Tomography – CTO, PCI – Catheterization & Cardiovascular Intervention
- Thrombus Burden guided treatment strategies in PCI - CSI Chennai 2010.
- Percutaneous coronary intervention in tortuous coronary arteries - CSI Chennai 2010.
- Primary PCI Thrombus Burden - Singapore live 2011.
- Transradial interventions: single-center experience 2012 - Singapore Asia PCR 2012.
- Acute on chronic CTO interventions abstract selected - TCTAP 2013, Seoul.
- Technical options for uncrossable chronic total occlusion - TCTAP 2015 Seoul. Also presented as an oral abstract.
- Spontaneous dissection PTCA with DES short-term follow-up and case study surgical retrieval of broken covered stent shaft in a case CTO PCI - EuroPCR 2015 Paris.
- JACC- 5th May 2015 (vol 65), technical options for uncrossable chronic total occlusion.
- JACC Nastica trail slender catheter systems.
- Acute on chronic CTO interventions of culprit vessel in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction – a novel finding – Catheterization and Cardiovascular Intervention, May 2013 supplement.
- 276 CTO interventions follow-up – Abstract - Euro interventional supplement 2012.
- Bifurcation stenting by modified mini-crush technique - ICC 2013.
- Safety and Performance of Sirolimus – Eluting Coronary Stent System with biodegradable polymer: A Retrospective Analysis in Real–World Patient Population – (WJCD vol:7, No:5, 2017{ID 1910655}).
- Awareness & Education Article Published in JET AIRWAYS monthly Magazine: 2017.
- Technical options for Uncrossable chronic total occlusion – SCAI Scientific Sessions 2018.
- International Journal of Clinical Medicine Research 2018;5(4):86- 89 - Technical options for Uncrossable chronic total occlusion (AASCIT).
- India Today Magazine released an article Healthy Heart in the New Normal on 26th Feb 2021.
- Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers published an article online: 2022-02-15 for "Retrograde Percutaneous Intervention of Chronic Total Occlusion Step by Step".
- Global Consensus Recommendation on improving the safety of Chronic Total Occlusion Interventions-2020.
- Guiding Principles for Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary.
- Awareness Article published on account of World Heart Day on 29th September 2021.
- Awareness Article published in India Today magazine on “Consequences of Heart Disease: Heart Attack and Stroke”-2021.
- India Today Awareness article published on “Role of co-existing diabetes with heart disease”-2022.
- The Week Magazine published an article “Successful Chip PCI with Hemodynamic support with Impella 2.5” on 9th July 2023.
- Awareness Article published in Health Medical Dialogues on “Microplastics and Heart Disease: Could Tiny Plastic Particles Be Affecting Your Cardiovascular System?” on January 2025
- Heart Healer of India – Featured in Excel India Magazine, July 2024 edition
- Top 10 Cardiologists in India – CEO Insights Magazine, 2025
- Masked Hypertension: Why Normal BP Readings Could Still Mean Trouble – Health Medical Dialogues 16th May 2025
- Radial pearls - A handbook on tips and techniques of radial interventions.
- Retrograde Approach Tips and Tricks in the CSI 2024 Book
- Evolution of CTO PCI in India in APCSI 2024 Souvenir Edition
- TCT Washington DC: 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010
- Asia Pacific Workshop on Interventional Cardiology, Perth, Australia: 1998
- NAIROBI: 2000
- SINGLIVE: 2001
- MARTITIOUS: 2002
- CAIRO: 2004
- EuroPCR Paris: 1997, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
- ACC: 2013, 2016
- Euro CTO Club: Turkey (2016), Berlin (2017), Toulouse (2018)
- LMCA stenting in an 11-year-old boy at EuroPCR (Barcelona) 2007.
- Complex LMCA Stenting at CCT Kobe, Japan, 2008.
- Subintimal Stenting CCT Kobe 2008.
- Complex SVG Stenting at Asia Pacific at Bangkok Meets 2008.
- Winner of a Challenging Case Competition at CTO (Retrograde) Course, April 2009, in Singapore.
- Septal hematoma in PCI AT EuroPCR Paris 2010.
- Bailout Stenting at TCTAP 2010-Seoul.
- Absorb clinical experience at Lumen Global in New Delhi on 12-1-2013.
- OCT experience in ICCK Imaging forum on 13/01/2013 at Kochi.
- Subintimal stenting of RCA CTO at Singapore Live in 2011.
- Stent fracture- coronary aneurysm and CT Angio follow-up at Singapore Live 2011.
- Osteoarthritis left subclavian CTO PTCA stent by coronary wire technique at Singapore Live 2011.
- RCA (CTO) - Subintimal stenting at Seoul, South Korea, January 2011 at TCTAP.
- CTO intervention antegrade with side branch anchoring at CCT Kobe, Japan – 2012.
- Transradial approach retrieval of stent at Miami, USA, 2012.
- LMCA stenting in a CTO intervention, TCT Miami, USA 2012.
- Modified Mini-crush bifurcation stenting EuroPCR 2012.
- ACC 2013 in San Francisco: side branch wire and new Gaia wire for antegrade CTO a case in a challenging forum.
- Successful Recanalization of SFA CTO with Conquest pro re-entry technique, ACC 2013.
- In challenging case forum title: side branch wire and new Gaia wire for antegrade CTO intervention, ACC 2013.
- CTO A different ball game @ TCT India Live - Feb 2016.
- Retrograde Bail Out Procedure @ NIC – Kochi – April 2016.
- HYBRID Approach to CTO-PCI: @ICC- GOA- Sep 2016.
- NIMS-HYD- May 2016.
- Complex PCI Rotablator – CSI Mysore Chapter Nov -2016.
- Kaveri Hospital – Retrograde CTO PCI Tips & Tricks.
- IJCTO – Antegrade – CTO-PCI Wiring - June 2016.
- Chair Person – CTO PCI Antegrade Approach Session @ 20th CCT Kobe, Japan - 2016.
- Commentator – Live Cases @ CCT Kobe, Japan - October 22nd, 2016.
- IVUS Guided Proximal Cap puncture in CTO – PCI @ MMM – Chennai.
- CTO Complications lecture on LM CTO Summit @ Tamil Nadu - CSI – 11th 12th Feb 2017.
- Led 12 members delegates & chaired the session of IJCTO @ CTO Club Nagoya June 2nd, 2017.
- Invited International faculty from INDIA: Lecture on CTO PCI @ Prestigious EURO CTO CLUB 2017, Berlin 15th -16th September 2017.
- CCT 2018 Invited faculty, Kobe, Japan.
- Invited faculty guest, Lecture “CTO PCI INDIA”, EURO CTO CLUB 2017 – Berlin.
- Invited faculty @ JEDDA - Middle East CTO Club - Jan 11th& 12th 2018.
- CTO Program organizer for INDIA LIVE @ Chennai - March 2nd, 2018.
- Lecture: “When Antegrade& When Retrograde Approach” @ 3rd Annual Conference of Telangana CSI, Hyderabad - 24th Sep 2017.
- Lecture: Late Thrombosis, Very Late Thrombosis @ CSI-2017.
- Lecture: Retrograde Approach Step by Step @ Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka - DEC-2017.
- Lecture & Speaker: New Devices in CTO PCI, Retrospective CTO PCI Registry - Single Centre Experience @ LIVE International IJCTO Workshop, Park Hyatt, Hyderabad - June 1st-3rd 2018.
- Led team of 12 members for joint session of IJCTO @ TOPIC 2018 - July 13th, 2018 (Challenging CTO case presentations and interaction).
- Co-Moderated Webinar – Let’s Talk Retrograde CTO (Dr Praveen Goel, Dr Kenya Nasu, Dr Kenichiro Shimoji), June 14th, 2020.
- Discussed Heart Disease & its management program HALT on N TV, 19th & 20th June 2020.
- Webinar- CTO- Hardware, Case-Based Approach & Evidence, 19th June 2020.
- Moderated Vascular Leadership Summit- Cathlab Nightmare Series- How Did I manage? 11th July 2020.
- Expert Panelist for Webinar- Cathlab Complications & My Learnings, 17th July 2020.
- Expert Panelist- CHIP India Summit – 8th & 9th August, 2020.
- Lecture on Septal channel Injury management at CTO PCI- Tough calls & Bailouts alongside Dr Khalid Tamman, Dr Ryuzo Hayashi, 19th August, 2020.
- Moderated Cardiovascular Virtual Event, 17th -19th Dec, 2020.
- Faculty at IMC Live Virtual, 9th Middle East CTO Summit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - 1st & 2nd April 2021.
- Speaker: Complex PCI Case-based discussion, CTO PCI Rendezvous technique - April 28th, 2021.
- Speaker: Live Cardio cover 2021 virtual event - Medicover Hospitals - April 30th, 2021.
- Faculty EuroPCR, 18th -20th May, 2021.
- Live Case and discussions- Long RCA CTO with Ambiguous Entry in a patient with CKD, August 21st, 2021.
- Lecture - Live in box Presentation at CCT2021 Japan, 28th Oct – 30th Oct 2021.
- Lecture - Cardiology pearls on 29th April 2022 -Virtual Topic, Tips and Tricks – Retrograde 20 min.
- Complex CTO Case based discussion @ CTO Club Nagoya, Japan – Virtual Meeting on June 17th, 2022.
- Lecture on Commitment beyond care – A Care Connect Patient Education Programme @ Park Hyatt Hyderabad on July 8th, 2022.
- Lecture on “Rendezvous phenomenon” at CSI-NIC Mid-Term Meet 2022 @ Ahmedabad - 17th & 19th June 2022.
- Faculty at IMC Live Virtual, 10th Middle East CTO Summit @ Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - 29th & 30th July, 2022.
- Led 10 members delegates & chaired the session of IJCTO @ CTO Club Nagoya, 9th & 10th June, 2023.
- Lecture for IVUS in Retrograde CTO PCA in SCIP Trivandrum, 30th Oct 2022.
- Lecture on Imaging CTO PCI on WCC forum on 5th March 2023.
- Lecture on CSI on 25th & 26th March 2023.
- Lecture in NIC on Uncrossable Lesion at Hitech City -Novotel on 30th June 2023.
- Lecture in 9th live IJCTO retried in failed cases at Marriot Sahara - Mumbai on 3rd June 2023.
- Lecture on "False Lumen: What's Next?" at 9th live IJCTO Wire, Marriott Sahara, Mumbai - June 3rd, 2023.
- Lecture on “Retrograde PCI” in CSI Telangana, 2025
- SPECTRUM Conference - Impella Experience in Mangalore, 2025
- Proctor for 44 Centers across the globe showcasing advanced interventional techniques.
- Conducted and operated in numerous live workshops and proctored at many hospitals in India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (CHIP-CTO-PCI).
- Operator of Complex CTO PCI CACTO 2006, 2009, 2012.
- Live workshop transmitted from Apollo Hospitals, Hyderguda to New Orleans, Florida on bifurcation stenting in May 2011.
- Live case CTO intervention transmitted to APCSI in 06/2012.
- Cacto operator live workshop - 2012, bifurcation lesion, modified Mini-crush technique.
- Operator of complex CTO case in IJCTO from Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad - 9th June, 2013.
- Operator of complex CTO in IJCTO transmitted from Apollo Hospitals, Hyderguda to Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) - June 2014.
- Live case operator of complex CTO – Antegrade technique, IJCTO - Lucknow - 2015.
- Live workshop of complex CTO cases at Savita Medical College - Chennai, April 2015.
- Live workshop of complex CTO cases at Govt Hospital, Palghat, Kerala - September 2015.
- Operator at Live Workshop AT Sentini Hospital - LMCA Stenting - Vijayawada – Feb 2016.
- Operator at Kaveri Hospital – Retrograde PCI - Chennai - Feb 2016.
- Operator at Indus Hospital Vizag – Complex CTO – PCI - Antegrade & Retrograde – March 2016.
- Live CTO Workshop at Suchitra Govt Hospital, Palghat, Kerala - 21st & 22nd May 2016.
- Live IJCTO Workshop at Apollo Hospital, Hyderguda, 4th To 10th June 2016.
- Live Workshop transmission to Vapi, Gujarat on June 18th, 2016.
- Live Case transmission to C3 Conference - Orlando -USA on June 29th, 2016.
- Live CTO PCI Proctor – At MOCC- (Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical College), Kolenchery, Cochin – October 31st, 2016.
- Workshop CTO – PCI, @ Apollo Hospital – Bangalore – November 9th 2016.
- Live Operator LMCTO Summit at Tamil Nadu – CSI – 11th & 12th Feb 2017.
- 5th Live IJCTO Workshop at JW Marriott Mumbai – 9th to 11th June 2017.
- CTO workshop on 17/09/24 at Career Hospital, Lucknow – 17th Sep
- Live CTO Workshop @ METRO Hospitals, Calicut – 28th & 29th Sep 2017.
- Live CTO Workshop @ Mangalore 7th & 8th Dec 2017.
- Live CTO Workshop @ Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore – December 23rd, 2017.
- Live CTO Workshop (5 CTO Done) @ Almah Hospitals, Kottakal, Kerala on 20th & 21st January 2018.
- Live CTO Workshop on 29th & 30th January 2018, @ Jagjeevanram Hospitals, Mumbai.
- Live CTO Workshop as Operator & Speaker @ Tamil Nadu Interventional council, Chennai - 10th & 11th February 2018.
- Live case operator INIDIALIVE @ Chennai - March 1st, 2018.
- Live CTO Workshop @ St. Philomena's Hospital, Bengaluru - 17th Feb 2018.
- Live Workshop Complex PCI & CTO @ Sabita Hospital, Chennai - March 27th, 2018.
- Cross Boss Stingray Workshop @ Apollo Hospital, Hyderguda, Hyderabad - 30th March 2018.
- Live Workshop Complex PCI & CTO @ Fortis Malar, Chennai - 10th April 2018.
- Live Workshop Complex PCI & CTO @ Aadesh Heart & Medical College, Bathinda, Punjab - 21ST April 2018.
- Live International IJCTO Workshop @ Park Hyatt, Hyderabad - June 1st-3rd 2018 (700 delegates, 20 International faculty, 18 Live Demo Cases).
- Live Work shop Complex PCI & CTO @ Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi, Kerala - 21st July 2018.
- Live Work shop Complex PCI & CTO @ Sai Cardiac Hospital & Siddhivinayak Hospital, Kolhapur, Maharashtra - 7th & 8th Sep 2018.
- Live Work shop complex PCI & CTO @ SKIMS Hospital, Kashmir - 27th & 28th Sep 2018.
- Live Work shop Complex PCI & CTO @ OMNI RK Hospital, Vizag, Andhra Pradesh - 14th Dec 2018.
- Live Case CTO at Complex Cardiology Live, 28th June 2020.
- Operator at Complex PCI Workshop, Sahara Hospital, Lucknow, 6th & 7th March 2021.
- Live Workshop Complex CTO PCI at Aadesh University and Max Super Specialty Hospital, Bathinda, Punjab on 13th August 2021.
- Live Workshop Complex CTO PCI at Ramesh Hospitals - Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, 12th Oct 2021.
- Live case complex CTO cases at Sahara Hospitals, Lucknow-Uttar Pradesh, for 2 days, 8th & 9th April 2022.
- Visiting Faculty for doing Complex CTO PCI cases in PGIMER on June 7th, 2022.
- Live Workshop Complex CTO PCI at Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences and Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital – Uttarakhand, 22nd & 23rd July 2022.
- Live CTO workshop at Vizag in Indus Hospital on 27th Aug 2022.
- Live CTO workshop at Hinduja Hospitals, Mumbai on 8th Sep 2022.
- Live CTO workshop at Ramesh Hospitals, Guntur on 14th Sep 2022.
- Live CTO Workshop at Ramesh Hospitals, Guntur on 24th Sep 2022.
- Live CTO workshop Bifurcation transmitted from India Care Hospitals, Hyderabad to Europe (EURO Bifurcation Club) on 24th Sep 2022.
- Live CTO workshop at Hinduja Hospitals, Mumbai on 10th Oct 2022.
- Live CTO workshop at Venkateshwara Hospitals in New Delhi on 15th Oct 2022.
- Live CTO workshop at Amla Hospitals, Trissur, Kerala on 22nd Feb 2023.
- CTO LMCA works at Ramesh Hospitals, Guntur, on 5th April 2023.
- Live CTO workshop @Jeevana Rekha Hospitals- Jaipur, 20th May 2023.
- 9th Live International IJCTO Workshop at Care Hospitals – Hyderabad, on 4th June 2023.
- Live CTO workshop NIC at Care Hospitals- Hyderabad, 30th June 2023.
- 4 Toughest CTOs- Dr Smith Lab, Govt Medical College Raipur, 9th June 2024.
- Retrograde PCI workshop at Bhatinda, 2024
- IJCTO @ CCT session in CCT 24 at Kobe on 24th, 25th, 26th of October, 2024.
- Complex PCI, including CTO PCI, at Sahyadri Hospital, Pune, on 22nd-23rd November 2024.
- CTO and Complex PCI academic workshop, JJ Hospital, Mumbai on 27th December 2024.
- MyLive 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- CTO Complex PCI workshop at Gregorios Hospital Parumala, Kerala.
- TAVI mini workshop in Care Banjara with symposium by VSP academy & care hospitals on 5th March 2025.
- Chip PCI workshop helping deserving sick cardiac patients with sutureless techniques at Aster Ramesh hospital, Guntur on 9th April 2025.
- CTO workshop on 11th April 2025 in Kannur, Kerala.
- CTO and Complex PCI workshop at Sahyadri Hospitals, Pune on 28th April 2025.
- CTO workshop at NIMS, Hyderabad on 15th May 2025
- Demonstrated a complex CTO PCI Retrograde approach successfully at Tender Palm Hospital, Lucknow on 1st June 2025
- Principal Investigator: Create Study.
- Principal Investigator: CREATE, SHIFT, CURRENT, OASIS, PLOY CAP, ARISTOTLE.
- Ongoing studies (PI): MYVAL-1, MOZEC, PROTÉGÉ DEB.
- Principal Investigator: Nausica Trail from Japan on 4F Guiding Catheters.
- Participated: Autologous Bone Marrow, Stem Cell, Transplantation Programmer in AMI & Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.
- Participating: Nobori Stent Trail from Japan.
- Involved in Trails: Rocket Af and Triology Acs Study.
- Principal Investigator: Valentine Trail of Dior Balloon.
- Participated: Dior Drug Eluting Balloon Registry.
- Participated: (Biomatrix) Biodegradable Stent Registry.
- Study Name: Mozec Study (Started Dec 2017) - Prospective, Multi-Center, Real World, Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) To Evaluate Safety and Performance of The Mozec Sirolimus Eluting PTCA Balloon Dilatation Catheter.
- Study Name: Myval-1 Study (Started Dec 2017) - Prospective, Multicentric, Single Arm, Open Label Study of Myval Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement System.
- Presentation: Technical options for Uncrossable Chronic Total Occlusion at SCAI 2018 Scientific Sessions, San Diego, CA, April 25 – 28, 2018.
- ACS OCT Study - 2018.
- Eastbourne Registry 2018-2019.
- OCT Study Abbott -2019-2020.
- Principal Investigator: Protocol Title: Ultra-Thin strut versus XiencE in a Diabetic population with Multi-Vessel Disease– 2– India Study (TUXEDO-2-India) - Aug 2021 to Ongoing.
- Principal Investigator: Protocol Title: Prospective, Observational, Single Arm, Multicenter Registry to evaluate clinical outcomes of the Shockwave Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) followed by stent implantation in Calcified Coronary Arteries in Real World Indian Patient Population (Shock India Registry) - Apr 2022 to Mar 2024.
- Founder, VSP PCI Academy – Dedicated program focused on CTO PCI and complex coronary interventions. Live demonstration of 6 CTO PCI Cases with Hands-on Experience for enhanced practice learning.
- Founder & Course Director, IJCTO – Organized IJCTO 2024 at The Westin, Hyderabad, a top Asia-Pacific CTO PCI academic program.
- Trained over 1,000 CTO PCI procedures, mentoring numerous junior cardiologists and interventional fellows.
- Mentored more than 20,000 transradial procedures across India.
- Provided extensive guidance to DNB students in cardiology and interventional practice.
- Served as a mentor to junior cardiologists and medical officers at Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad.
- Proctored more than 250 complex CTO PCI cases at over 25 leading cardiac centers nationwide.
- Performed over 1,500 CTO PCI procedures while mentoring peers during live demonstrations and workshops.
- Steering Eight (8) seasoned Cardiologists since 1999.
- Presently, The Head of Department – Cardiology, Care Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, TS, India.
- Founder Member & Course Director of CACTO (Complex Angioplasty and Chronic total Occlusion) – established since 2006; a registered trust organizing annual Live congresses attended by 400 Interventional Cardiologists pan India. Course directors include eminent fraternity members from Japan, the USA, and Europe. Organized Live demos, congresses in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012.
- Founder Member and Course Director of IJCTO (Indo Japanese Chronic Total Occlusion) – a registered forum since 2013. Conducts annual congresses across India (500-700 attendees) and Fellows courses (min 500 attendees). Collaborates with Japanese and European peers, exchanging new science via live demo cases transmitted from 5 centers across India (>90% success rate). Acclaimed as the best Congress and forum in the Asia Pacific region.
- EuroPCR: 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013
- SINGLIVE: 2007
- CCT Kobe: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014
- Asia Pacific Summit, TCTAP SEOUL: 2004, 2008, 2010
- Asia Pacific Interventional Meets at Bangkok: 2008
- Chennai India Live: 2012, 2013
- C3 Conference, Orlando, USA
- ACC At San Francisco: 2013
- TCTAP At Seoul: April 2013
- EuroPCR As Faculty: 2013
- Member of International Faculty CCT: 2013, 2014
- Faculty CTO Club Nagoya: 2015
- Faculty Topic Tokyo: 2015
- Faculty EURO CTO Club Istanbul: 2015
- CSI – Chennai: 2016
- NIC – Cochin: 2016
- ICC- Goa: 2016
- TCT- India Live Hyderabad: 2016
- MMM- Chennai: 2016
- India Live- New Delhi: 2016
- Topic – Tokyo, Japan: 2016
- CCT – Kobe, Japan: 2016
- International Faculty Chair Person for live Cases CCT Kobe, Japan: 2017, 2018, 2019
- Invited International Faculty at CTO Club Nagoya: 2018, 2019
- Faculty CIT, Beijing, China: 2019
- India Live- Mumbai: 2025
- IJCTO Summit 2025, Lucknow.
- FACC (Fellow of the American College of Cardiology) / USA
- FSCAI (Fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions) / USA
- FESC (Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology) / PARIS, FRANCE
- FCSI (Fellow of the Cardiological Society of India) - INDIA
- FICC (Fellow of the Indian College of Cardiology) – INDIA
- Winner of Challenging Case Competition – CTO (Retrograde) Course, Singapore 2009
- First in India to implant the Heart Mate III LVAD in the Telugu-speaking states
- Pioneered the use of CrossBoss, Stingray, and Tornus Devices in India for successful CTO PCI
- Performed rare Left Main Stenting in an 11-year-old – a globally uncommon intervention
- Nicknamed “Rao Sensei” by Japanese cardiologists for his contribution to the field of CTO PCI
- First Indian honored as Cathlab Advisor at Razuwakai Marumachi Hospital, Kyoto City, Japan (Oct 21, 2016)
- First Indian Interventional Cardiologist to perform a live complex CTO demo at CTO Club Nagoya, Japan – live from Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad (June 15, 2018)
- Felicitated by KINNERA Awards for contributions to medicine (March 15, 2018)
- Live CTO demo successfully transmitted to CCT-Japan 2019
- Felicitated by the public at Gayathri Hospitals, Kothagudem, Khammam 2019
- Vocational Excellence Awardee – VYBHAVAM Conference by Rotary Club, Feb 3, 2020
- Successfully implanted the Heart Mate-III LVAD from Abbott (St. Jude) in the Telugu Speaking states (TS & AP), India on 3rd December 2017.
- First use of Cross Boss and Stingray Device in India in a successful CTO-PCI Antegrade approach.
- Performed complex CHIP PCI ECMO-assisted procedure at Care Hospital, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
- Successfully carried out TAVR procedures.
- Successfully implanted the first TRIC VALVE at Care Group of Hospitals, Hyderabad on 10th July 2023.
- Utilized the Recross Trapit Balloon for the first time during a live demo case.
- Felicitation by Health Minister of Telangana at Vasavi Hospitals, Hyderabad – Cardiothoracic Theatre Inauguration (Feb 2, 2022)
- Distinguished Proctor for Complex PCI Award – Felicitation by Health Minister of Tamil Nadu on behalf of Tamil Nadu Interventional Council (June 4, 2022)
- Recognized as Heart Healer of India – Featured in Excel India Magazine, July 2024 edition
- Named among Top 10 Cardiologists in India – CEO Insights Magazine, 2025
- Recognized as Top Most Healthcare Leader – World Health & Wellness Congress Awards (9th Edition, 2025)
