Dr. K Chitkara is a Consultant Cardiologist to the Royal Derby Hospital in Derby since 2010. His specialist postgraduate training in cardiology was undertaken at Glenfield Hospital, in Leicester. Dr. Chitkara also undertook a period of research at University of Leicester and was awarded M.D in 2008. Dr. Chitkara undertook high volume intervention during his Interventional Fellowship at highly renowned centre, Leeds General Infirmary. 

Expertise

Dr Chitkara’s practice comprises a broad spectrum of cardiological conditions, specialising in the management of ischaemic heart disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (routine and complex coronary angioplasty and stenting), the investigation of cardiac causes of stroke, hypertension, management of valvular heart disease and the treatment of heart failure.

Dr Chitkara performs the vast majority of procedures via the radial (wrist) artery. In fact, patients who have experienced both methods, and who require a repeat procedure actually specifically request a transradial approach.

He also has a strong interest in the investigation of palpitations, dizzy spells, blackouts, chest pain and breathlessness and a special interest in Drug Resistant Hypertension. 

Dr Chitkara was instrumental in establishing primary angioplasty for the acute management of myocardial infarction (heart attack) at The Royal Derby Hospital.

Dr Chitkara regularly organises interactive National case based discussion courses which are run in collaboration with a panel of experts and aimed at final year SpRs and new Consultants.

He is the Research Lead for the Department of Cardiology at Derby Hospital and has published widely in peer-reviewed journals with abstracts for national and international meetings. He also has vast experience of successful grant and ethics applications, statistical analysis and manuscript preparation.

Some of the conditions that Dr. Chitkara treats include:

·         Angina (chest pain)

·         Shortness of breath

·         Hypertension (high blood pressure)

·         Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

·         Diseases of the heart valves  

·         Arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)

·         Congestive heart failure

·         Coronary artery disease

·         Dizziness and syncope (fainting)

·         Palpitations 

·         Edema (swelling)

·         High cholesterol

Professional Qualifications

• MBBS (India) with Distinctions, 1995
• MRCP (UK), 2001
• MD (Leicester), 2008
• CCT (UK) Cardiology, 2010

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

• British Cardiovascular Interventional Society (BCIS)
• Society of Catheter and Interventions (SCAI)
• European Club of Interventional Cardiologists (EUCIC)

Research & Publications

Dr Chitkara is the Research Lead for the department of cardiology at Derby Hospital. He has extensive experience in research, performed during his MD and SpR training. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals with abstracts for national and international meetings. He also has a vast experience of successful grant and ethics applications performing statistical analysis and manuscript preparation. He has just published a book on Eptifibatide Eluting Stents and is currently editing Coronary Complications during PCI – A survival handbook.

1. Routine Pressure Wire Assessment at Time of Diagnostic Angiography: Is it Ready for Prime Time?  The RIPCORD Study. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2014;7:139-141 Chitkara K*, Nick Curzen et.

2. DES: 2nd Generation vs. 1st generation. Chitkara K*, Gershlick A.H. J. Interventional Cardiology (Interventional Cardiology –August 2010).

3. Drug Eluting Stents in patients with ST Elevation MI. Chitkara K*, Gershlick A.H. European Cardiovascular Disease – Vol.1, (Issue II) November 2009.

4. Eptifibatide eluting stents as an anti proliferative and anti thrombotic agent: in- vitro evaluation. Chitkara K*, Hogrefe K, Gershlick A.H. J Invasive Cardiol. 2006 Sep; 18(9):417-22.

5. Drug Eluting Stents in coronary atheromatous disease. Chitkara K*, Hogrefe K, Gershlick. Hospital Pharmacy Europe- 48-51 October 2003.

6. Drug Eluting Stents: Promises and Pitfalls. Chitkara K*, Bhandari M, Gershlick A.H. Interventional Cardiology Monitor- volume 10, No.1 2003. 

Course Organiser

Dr. Chitkara has key interest in prevention of coronary complications and regularly organises interactive case based discussion course for final year SpRs and new Consultants in collaboration with a panel of experts, as he believes that complication cases often form the basis for a good discussion and are a learning opportunity for better management and prevention of coronary complications during intervention.