The new catheterisation laboratories at University Hospital Limerick are driving significant improvements to cardiology services in the region, creating the capacity for a 54% increase in cardiology procedures per year and access to procedures never before available in the Mid West.
The units replace dated existing equipment with two new Azurion 7 x-ray machines. The €2m capital costs were partly met by the HSE, along with a €1.65m contribution raised by the Munster Heart Foundation through supporter donations and a successful grant application to the JP McManus Pro-Am.
The most modern cath labs in the country, these units have the capacity to provide up to 20 additional cardiology sessions per week, up to 1,750 more per year than was possible previously.
The laser-guided therapy technology allows for higher imaging quality, management of more complex cases in the Mid West.
A spokesperson said, “The new facilities will further enhance UHL’S capacity as a nationally-designated 24/7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) centre. UHL is already one of Ireland’s best-performing centres for care of patients with STEMI heart attacks, which are among the most serious of coronary events. UHL was one of the first participating regional hospitals in the national roll-out of STEMI services in 2013. Over the past 12 years, UHL has maintained successful outcomes for STEMI patients that are on a par with and often surpass those in the rest of the country. The past three annual NOCA audits confirm that UHL is the best-performing hospital in meeting the national target of 120 minutes for reperfusion of patients admitted directly. Timely treatment is associated with reduced patient mortality.”
New procedures available include renal arterial denervation (RAD) for life-threatening hypertension, currently being trialled, and structural procedures such as cardiac valve replacement. The new labs also create the capacity for future provision of electrophysiology procedures for complex arrhythmias and other electrical activities of the heart.
The new labs are a major step forward in tackling waiting lists for procedures and wait times for routine outpatient appointments. This means fewer referrals outside the region or to the private sector, and less reliance on lifelong drug therapies for conditions not surgically treated.
