Mumbai- In a remarkable example of technology meeting medicine, doctors at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road successfully diagnosed and treated a rare, potentially fatal heart condition—thanks to data from a patient’s smartwatch.The patient, a 46-year-old IT professional, Kiran Tiwari (name changed), had been struggling with sudden and unexplained blackouts for more than six months. With no prior history of heart disease, his repeated fainting spells left both him and his family anxious and searching for answers.
At first, the medical team looked for neurological causes. Under the care of Dr. Pavan Pai, Consultant Neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, Kiran underwent extensive tests including MRI scans, EEG, and other neurological evaluations. All results came back normal, showing no signs of seizures, stroke, or other brain-related disorders. With cardiac monitoring and ECGs also failing to show abnormalities, a provisional diagnosis of cryptogenic seizures was considered.
The mystery only deepened—until an emergency episode changed everything. During another emergency visit to Wockhardt Hospitals, Dr. Ashish Mishra, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, reviewed clinical records and decided to review the patient’s smartwatch logs. The wearable device revealed what conventional hospital-based monitoring had missed: repeated episodes of dangerously slow heart rates, dropping to as low as 34 beats per minute with paroxysmal high grade atrioventricular (AV) block – a serious condition where the heart’s electrical signals fail to transmit properly. The logs were exactly matching the timing of Kiran’s fainting spells.
To confirm, hospital monitoring was extended. This time telemetry captured an alarming event – a complete heart block that lasted over five seconds, long enough to cause loss of consciousness and impose a direct threat to life.
Recognizing the urgency, Dr. Ashish Mishra, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, implanted a temporary pacemaker followed by a dual-chamber permanent pacemaker. The device now ensures that Kiran’s heart rhythm remains steady and safe. The surgery went smoothly, and recovery was uneventful. Since then, Kiran has had no further fainting episodes. He has returned to his professional and personal routine with renewed confidence, even resuming international travel without restrictions.
Reflecting on his journey, Kiran Tiwari (patient ) shared: “The smartwatch tracked my heartbeat and rhythm, but it was the careful interpretation by Dr. Ashish Mishra and the timely decision to implant a pacemaker that saved my life.”
Dr. Ashish Mishra, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road added perspective on the larger significance: “This case underscores the growing role of wearable technology in healthcare. Devices like smartwatches can provide crucial real-time data which, when combined with expert medical analysis, can lead to life-saving interventions.”
For Kiran, the story ended in relief and recovery. For Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road it was another example of how advanced expertise, teamwork, and patient-centered care—sometimes with a helping hand from consumer technology—can make the difference between uncertainty and a life-saving solution.