500 patients treated at Cath Lab of Bheri Hospital

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Mar. 3: Altogether 500 heart patients have received treatment at the Cath Lab of Bheri Hospital. The Cath Lab was established to provide easy and effective treatments to  heart patients.  

Dr. Vikas Nepal, Associate Professor and a cardiologist at Bheri Hospital, informed that in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, 500 heart patients received treatment through the hospital’s Cath Lab.

He stated that from mid-July to mid-February, 500 heart patients have been provided with Cath Lab services. Under this service, various heart-related treatments such as coronary angiography, coronary angioplasty, renal angiogram, pericardiocentesis, and pacemaker implantation have been conducted, according to Dr. Nepal.

According to Bheri Hospital, most patients from western Nepal seek Cath Lab services at the hospital. Patients from districts including Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Dang, and Darchula have availed themselves of treatment services this fiscal year.

The hospital reported that 374 individuals  underwent coronary angiography, while 129 patients  received angioplasty. 

Additionally, 17 patients have been provided with temporary pacemakers, 11 with permanent pacemakers, and six with balloon angioplasty services.

Pericardiocentesis services were provided to four patients, generator replacement to two patients, and generator repositioning to one patient, according to Dr. Nepal.

Bheri Hospital’s Cath Lab is currently operated by two cardiologists, one physician, two medical officers, and staff nurses, as stated by the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr. Nirajan Subedi. He highlighted that a shortage of medical personnel has posed challenges, but with an increase in skilled manpower, the hospital could expand its cardiology services further.

According to Dr. Nepal, in angiography, a small catheter, known as a pipe, is inserted into the heart, allowing medication to be sent into the coronary arteries to check for blockages. In coronary angioplasty, blocked arteries are opened using a catheter-based procedure with a balloon and stent. 

In the case of pacemakers, either temporary or permanent, the device helps regulate the heartbeat for patients with slow heart rhythms.