UAE | Health
Myocardial infarction heart attacks on the rise across Abu Dhabi
Shaikh Khalifa Medical City announces 1,044 cases reported in past four years.
- By Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:46 December 30, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Primary angioplasties for ST elevation myocardial infarction type of heart attacks are on the rise with at least 1,044 cases reported in the last four years announced Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) operated by the Abu Dhabi Health Services.
Myocardial infarction is commonly known as a heart attack that occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart is interrupted. This is caused due to a blocked coronary artery following a rupture in the artery resulting in oxygen shortage.
The Cardiac Sciences department at SKMC is to date the only cardiac department that sssoffers emergency primary angioplasty services in the UAE 24-hours a day since it's 2004 inception in December.
"If primary angioplasty isn't dealt with in a time it may result in death. Patients with the condition should be directed from the emergency department to cardiac catheterisation suites without any delay," said Dr Nazar Al Bustani, head of cardiac catheterisation and deputy head of adult cardiology at SKMC.
Approximately 5,500 procedures have been performed in Abu Dhabi since December 2004 with the rate of therapeutic cardiac catheterisation being at least 60 per cent.
This procedure involves a local anaesthesia and inserting catheters into veins or arteries in the neck, leg, or arm, from where they're advanced to the right and/or left side of the heart.
Interval must be under 90 minutes from when the patient arrives at the emergency department to when the artery is opened.
The door to balloon time must be under 90 minutes on average, added the doctor.
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