First angioplasty done at medical college cathlab

Catheterisation Laboratory to be inaugurated tomorrow

The first successful angioplasty was done at Government Medical College, Ernakulam, on Friday at the new Catheterisation Laboratory (Cathlab) that is scheduled to be inaugurated on Sunday.

The patient, Jithesh, 38, was admitted to the medical college hospital about two days ago with chest discomfort.

The department now has modern equipment that can take up balloon angioplasty, complicated stenting, pacemaker implant and electrophysiology studies. Besides, 4D echocardiogram and other important devices are also available in the department.

Equipment have also been bought to set up the cardiothoracic surgery department soon.

The General Hospital (GH), with a cathlab installed two-and-a-half years ago, was the only centre in the public sector in the district which was doing cardiac procedures.

So far, the GH has done 6,500 cases. In a month, about 150 cases are being done.

According to Dr. Paul Thomas, head of the Cardiology Department at GH, there is a waiting period of three to four weeks for steady patients. The waiting period could now come down with another cathlab in the public sector.