Sixteen patients have received cardiac diagnostic and interventional treatment at the newly established catheterisation laboratory (Cath Lab) at Addu Equatorial Hospital, since services began late last month.

The Interventional Cardiology service was launched by Addu Equatorial Hospital in collaboration with Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), with the facility officially inaugurated earlier this month as part of the Government’s efforts to expand specialised healthcare services in the atolls.

According to Addu Equatorial Hospital, seven patients have undergone coronary angiography (CAG) with angioplasty, while nine patients have received CAG procedures since the Cath Lab became operational.

Coronary angiography is a diagnostic procedure used to assess the condition of the blood vessels supplying the heart. It involves inserting a catheter through the arm or wrist and injecting a contrast dye into the coronary arteries, allowing blockages to be identified through X-ray imaging.

Angioplasty is a treatment procedure used to restore blood flow in narrowed or blocked arteries. The process involves inflating a small balloon to widen the affected vessel, often followed by the placement of a stent to keep the artery open and improve blood circulation to the heart.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Cath Lab earlier this month, Malé City Group of Hospitals (MCGH) Chief Executive Officer Haleem said the facility would significantly reduce the need for patients from Addu City and the southern atolls to travel to Malé for specialised cardiac diagnosis and treatment. The Cath Lab is expected to improve timely access to life-saving interventions for heart patients in the southern region.