Upgraded cardiac cath lab ready to make a difference

The cardiac centre at Netcare Sunward Park Hospital reopened its upgraded catheterisation laboratory on August 21, a state-of-the-art facility where various cardiovascular diseases can be diagnosed and treated using minimally invasive interventions.

Cardiologist at the hospital Dr Lancelot Mkhwanazi explained a catheterisation laboratory, or cath lab, is a facility with diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualise the vascular system and the chambers of the heart to accurately diagnose cardiovascular conditions and to guide treatment through minimally invasive interventions.

“Time is often critical when we are performing these minimally invasive interventions, which patients’ lives may depend on.

“Femoral access can be achieved in half the time, and the exceptional resolution of the imaging saves time and provides greater confidence in navigating these intricate procedures using the Artis icono biplane Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) system.

“The new biplane DSA technology recently installed enables specialists to view the heart from two different angles simultaneously, allowing them to visualise the arteries with three-dimensional clarity.

“The benefit is that reduced volumes of contrast agent are required with less radiation exposure compared with traditional angiography,” said Mkhwanazi.

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“The advanced new biplane DSA system now incorporated in the refurbished cath lab is especially advantageous for the more complex coronary interventions we are routinely performing at Netcare Sunward Park Hospital,” added cardiologist Dr Pieter van Wyk.

“Procedures including superior mesenteric artery angioplasty, as well as renal artery intervention, aortic stenting, endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm, and carotid artery intervention are performed using the new system.”

Van Wyk said interventions such as chronic total occlusion to clear a completely blocked coronary artery and multivessel stenting greatly benefit from enhanced visualization.

“This upgrade ensures that the coronary services available at the Hospital remain on par with world-class facilities in this fast-developing area of medicine,

Earlier this year, Dr Van Wyk and his practice partner, interventional cardiologist Professor Farrel Hellig, were invited to demonstrate live educational procedures for delegates of EuroPCR 2024, the world’s foremost interventional cardiovascular conference in the French capital, Paris.

Greg Mokgoatlheng, general manager of Netcare Sunward Park Hospital, adds that the image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic system is highly versatile.

“This noteworthy addition to our facility is geared not only for interventional coronary procedures, but the new Cath Lab equipment also has applications for cerebral, pulmonary, renal and vascular angiography,” said Mokgoatlheng.

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