Best Cardiologist in Saurashtra — Dr. Nikhila Pachani

A cardiologist trusted across Saurashtra and Kutch

For more than a decade, families across Saurashtra have travelled to Rajkot for senior interventional cardiology — and increasingly to Dr. Nikhila Pachani at Backbone Medicity Super Specialty Hospital. The pattern is simple: a relative in Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar or Bhuj develops chest pain, the local physician arranges an ECG, and the family is referred for a senior cardiology opinion. Within a day, the file reaches Rajkot, the patient is seen, and a clear plan is sent home with them.

Dr. Nikhila's record — over 15,000 coronary angiographies and 4,000 angioplasties — is unusual in Saurashtra private cardiology, particularly for a single operator who personally performs every case. Combined with a DM Cardiology from AIMS Kochi and an academic teaching background at U.N. Mehta Institute, Ahmedabad, that experience translates into faster diagnoses and shorter procedures for patients travelling from across the region.

Towns and districts she serves

• Saurashtra core: Rajkot, Morbi, Gondal, Jetpur, Jasdan, Wankaner.
• Coastal Saurashtra: Porbandar, Veraval, Keshod, Junagadh.
• Western Saurashtra: Jamnagar, Jam Khambhaliya, Dwarka.
• Southern belt: Amreli, Savarkundla, Bhavnagar, Mahuva.
• Northern Saurashtra: Surendranagar, Halvad, Dhrangadhra.
• Kutch: Bhuj, Gandhidham, Anjar, Mandvi.

Periodic OPDs and free cardiac camps

Senior cardiology should not be limited to those who can travel. Dr. Nikhila runs periodic OPDs at partner hospitals in Porbandar (Thakrar / Global Hospital), Dhoraji (Teli Hospital), Upleta (Samarpan Hospital), Veraval (I.G. Memorial Hospital), Junagadh (Hatkesh Trust / Trimurti Hospital), Keshod (Dr. Sanghani Hospital) and Jam Khambhaliya (Dr. Joshi Trust Hospital) — many of these have been running for five years or more.

Free cardiac screening camps are organised every year across smaller towns and villages — Wankaner, Savarkundla, Jasdan and others — bringing basic ECG, BP, sugar and cardiac assessment to communities that would otherwise miss screening entirely.

What complex cases come to Rajkot

Routine angiography and single-vessel angioplasty can often be done locally. What brings Saurashtra patients to Rajkot is the complex work: chronic total occlusion (CTO) PCI, left-main angioplasty, bifurcation lesions, heavily calcified arteries, in-stent restenosis, and patients with multiple comorbidities such as advanced diabetes, kidney disease or low ejection fraction. The Backbone Medicity cathlab and Heart Team are equipped to handle these cases routinely.

Emergency primary angioplasty for active heart attacks is available 24×7. For Saurashtra districts within 2 hours of Rajkot, this is often the difference between a small myocardial scar and a large one — every 30 minutes saved improves long-term function.

Planning your visit from another town

Most Saurashtra and Kutch patients reach Backbone Medicity in 1–4 hours by road. WhatsApp reports to the assistant first — a quick preliminary review often clarifies whether the trip is urgent, scheduled or avoidable. Stay arrangements, vegetarian and Jain meal coordination, attendant cot in the patient room, and station/airport pickup can be arranged with prior notice.

For Kutch and remote Saurashtra patients who cannot travel, planned ambulance transfer (BLS or ACLS) can be coordinated with 2–3 hours of notice.