The cardiac centre at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg has re-opened its upgraded catheterisation laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility in which a range of cardiovascular diseases can be diagnosed and treated using minimally invasive interventions.
Commenting on the upgrades, Netcare St Anne’s Hospital general manager, Louis Joubert, said that the catheterisation laboratory had been completely upgraded and equipped with the latest technologies. Another first for the hospital is that it now also offers a range of heart rhythm disorder treatment services.
“We are tremendously excited by these developments, which expanded and strengthen the cardiac services offered at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital cardiac centre to the benefit of patients from the greater Pietermaritzburg and KZN Midlands areas who are suffering from any form of cardiovascular disease or heart rhythm disorders,” added Joubert.
“Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital also extends a warm welcome to cardiologist, Dr Kevin Michael, who specialises in electrophysiology, or the electrical system of the heart, and heart rhythm disorders, as well as interventional cardiologist, Dr Yuvashnee Govender. They joined our existing team of cardiologists, Dr Kyi Shein, Dr Sanjay Maharaj, Dr Aine Mugabi and Dr Elias Baig,” added Joubert.
Joubert explains that a catheterisation laboratory is a facility with diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualise the vascular system and the chambers of the heart in order to accurately diagnose cardiovascular conditions, and to guide treatment through minimally invasive interventions.
“In appropriate cardiovascular cases, minimally invasive interventions are used instead of open surgery which typically involves larger surgical incisions and tend to be more physically traumatic with longer recovery periods.”
Joubert says that there has been an increased demand for such interventions in the Umgungundlovu district, and around the world in recent years. “We wanted our patients to have easy access to these services right here on their doorstep,” he observes.
“The technology and equipment installed in our new catheterisation laboratory includes a highly sophisticated Siemens Artis Q imaging device, which has a new generation X-ray tube and flat detector which decrease radiation doses and enhances both 2D and 3D imaging.”
“We would like to thank our patients, doctors and staff members for their patience during the building and upgrade process,” says Joubert.
“One of the goals of the upgrade was to ensure that our hospital is in a position to meet the treatment needs and exceed the expectations of our vascular and cardiac patients into the future. We want our patients to know that they always remain in safe hands when they are a patient at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital,” he concludes.
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Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Netcare St Anne’s Hospital
Contact: Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Meggan Saville, and Pieter Rossouw
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]