Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global mortality. Coronary artery disease (CAD), characterised by plaque build-up (atherosclerosis) within the coronary arteries, is considered the most common type of CVD.
Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are available, such as balloon angioplasty and stent placement, to restore blood flow in blocked coronary arteries. PCI has become a commonly performed medical procedure globally.
Heavily calcified blockages pose a very serious challenge to interventional cardiologists to pass balloons and stents in the arteries.
Led by senior interventional cardiologists, Dr Nilesh Mehta and Associate Professor Asrar ul Haq, the team in the Knox Private Hospital Cardiac Cath lab were the first to use the Orbital Atherectomy System in Victoria.
This cutting-edge technology to insert stents in the blocked arteries helps clearing out the calcium. The procedure was done through the right wrist, and patients were able to go home the next day. The Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System (OAS) is a single-use catheter-based system designed for patients with CAD who are acceptable candidates for stenting due to de novo, severely calcified coronary artery lesions.
Cardiologists who practice at Knox Private Hospital, at hospitals outside of Healthscope, and interstate were invited to observe.
We thank the Knox Private Hospital who supported and helped us to bring this technology to Victoria to provide the best possible care to our patients, the majority of whom were elderly sick patients, who could not undergo major open heart surgery. We anticipate more uptake of this niche technology, which is life-saving in some patients.
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