EDITOR

Solomon Victor, Madras

Assoc~ EDrro~ S. Muralidharan, Veliore

ADVlSORV BO~atD J.S. Gujml, Chandigarh B.R. Kalke, Bombay Stanley John, Vellore G.B. Pmdk~, Bombay Nernith Shah, Bombay

Msmmas Amit B mm'jee, eondicherry Bh~kar Rto, Hyderabad A.P. Chaukar, Bombay MJ~ Girinath, Madrax Harjinder Singh, Cha~ligarh l ~ i Camtma, Xawur M.N. Khmma, Varanasi S.K. Kham~ New Delhi R.S. Rajah, Pune Saibal Guptt, Calcutta M.S. Vtlitthtn, Trivandrum

T~mmr~ Emroa Ramola ~ a h

Association of Thoracic & Ca~iovascullx Surgeons of India

1961-63 S.S. A_nand 1979 ILN. Dastttr 1964--66 S.IL Sen 1980"Nemish Shah 1967-69 P.IC Sen 1981 G.B. Pjtulkar 1970-72 A.K. Btau 1982 Stanley John 1973-75 M.P. Mehta 1983 R.N. Tha.,tja 1976 N. Gopinath 1984 B.R. Kalke 1977 A. Chanm 1985 J.S. Gujral 1978 G.S. Karai 1986 S.M. Sengupta

SEcazrmaes 1961-66 N. Gopinath 1967-72 G.S. Kami 1973-78 G.B. Pamlkar 1979-84 Solomon Victor 1985 onwards K.R. Shetty

Pltl/CrED AT: Reliance Printers, 9 Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Madras- 600 020.

Ptmustmo sv : ATCVSI, 15 East StreeL Kilpaak Garden Colony, Madras- 600 010.

EDITORIAL

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of a Developing Nation

This journal reflects the agony and ecstasy of practising thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in a developing nation, and publishing a journal.

We need to keep ourselves informed about artificial hearts. At the same time we need to innovate cheap ways of chest drainage and cannulations. While redo myocardial revascu- larisations and assist devices engage the attention of our colleagues in the developed world, we need to search for solutions for tuberculous pericarditis and rheumatic heart diseases.

The developed world floods the international arena with voluminous printed matter. We, in a developing nation, with enviable, enormous clinical material, find various excuses for failing to document our findings, leading to difficulty in maintaining regularity and high standard of our publications. It is true we are unable to study our patients due to lack of necessary equipments; facility for patient care varies in standards; our records and library support are poor; and follow up is usually nonexistent. However, some of these ills also plague the developed nations. Actuarial curves, patient years and patient months, though impressive, often camouflage the fact that all their patients have not been followed up for an adequate length of time.

There is no need for despair. Our nation has progressed in many fronts. Thoracic and cardio- vascular surgery in India is no exception and is poised for a rapid growth in quantity and quality. This would certainly be reflected in the quality, regularity and consistency of this journal in future.

EDITOR