Dr. Krishna Subramony Iyer is an Indian paediatric and congenital cardiac surgeon whose work has helped expand access to specialised heart surgery for children in India and other developing countries. He completed his medical and postgraduate surgical education at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and subsequently joined its Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery. Before moving to Escorts Heart Institute, he served as an Additional Professor at AIIMS.

In 1989, Dr. Iyer undertook advanced training in paediatric and infant cardiac surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, under the supervision of Dr. R. B. B. Mee. After returning to India, he focused on building paediatric and congenital cardiac surgery as a specialist service, including in the non-governmental healthcare sector.

In 1995, he established a dedicated paediatric cardiac care programme at Escorts Heart Institute Research Centre, now Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi. The programme was developed to provide surgical care for infants and children with congenital heart conditions and became a referral centre for patients from across India and neighbouring countries. Fortis’s current profile reports that Dr. Iyer has more than four decades of experience and has operated on over 10,000 babies, children and adults with congenital heart disease.

His clinical work includes complex procedures for congenital heart defects, such as arterial switch and double-switch operations, repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), Fontan procedures, and surgical correction of Tetralogy of Fallot, double outlet right ventricle (DORV) and truncus arteriosus. He has also contributed to the development of rapid two-stage arterial switch surgery and complex neonatal cardiac surgery.

Alongside clinical practice, Dr. Iyer has contributed to research, medical education and professional leadership. His published work includes more than 100 papers in national and international journals and contributions to medical textbooks. He has held leadership roles in paediatric cardiac surgery organisations and has served as Editor of the Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. He has also been involved in charitable initiatives supporting children who need cardiac treatment.

Educational Qualifications

• MBBS, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, 1978.
• M.S. in General Surgery, AIIMS, New Delhi, 1981.
• M.Ch. in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, AIIMS, New Delhi, 1984.

Fellowship & Areas of Interest

Dr. Iyer completed specialist training in paediatric and infant cardiac surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, in 1989, under Dr. R. B. B. Mee.

• Surgical treatment of congenital heart disease in newborns, children and adults.
• Complex neonatal and infant cardiac surgery.
• Arterial switch and double-switch operations for complex transposition of the great arteries.
• Repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), Tetralogy of Fallot, DORV and truncus arteriosus.
• Fontan and Fontan-type procedures, conduit repairs, and staged or single-stage correction of complex congenital heart conditions.
• Care for patients whose congenital heart disease is diagnosed late, and development of cost-conscious paediatric cardiac services.

Research Contributions & Publications

Dr. Iyer’s academic work has focused on paediatric and congenital cardiac surgery, particularly complex congenital heart conditions and surgical approaches for infants. His professional profile records more than 100 publications in national and international journals and contributions to textbook chapters on paediatric and neonatal cardiac surgery. He has delivered lectures at national and international meetings and has participated in continuing medical education programmes. He has also served as Editor of the Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and has been associated with the editorial board of Annals of Pediatric Cardiology.

Awards, Honours, and Recognitions

• Institute Gold Medal for Best Graduate at the MBBS examination, AIIMS.
• Sorel Catherine Friedsman Prize for proficiency in Paediatrics.
• Pfizer Postgraduate Medical Award, Gold Medal and Scroll of Honour.
• Hira Lal Gold Medal for best postgraduate in General Surgery.
• Doppler Award for the best paper at the Sixth International Symposium on Echocardiography in Cardiac Surgery, Washington, D.C., 1994.
• Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International Foundation in recognition of humanitarian service for children.
• Dynamic Indian of the Millennium Award from the KG Foundation, Coimbatore, 2009.

Specialization

• Paediatric cardiac surgery
• Congenital heart surgery
• Neonatal and infant cardiac surgery
• Complex congenital heart defect repair
• Arterial switch and double-switch operations
• TAPVC repair, Fontan procedures, Tetralogy of Fallot correction and DORV repair

• Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi — served as faculty and later Additional Professor.
• Escorts Heart Institute Research Centre (now Fortis Escorts Heart Institute), New Delhi — established a dedicated paediatric cardiac care programme in 1995.
• Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi — Chairman and Head of Paediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, as listed in the hospital’s current professional profile.