CATH Lab fully functional since May 15 surgeries performed monthly

Ministry of Public Health, Guyana, October 22, 2016

The Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) has recorded an average of fifteen (15) cardiac procedures per month ever since the establishment of the Catherisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) in May of this year. The cardiac Catherisation machine procured by the Ministry of Public Health has been fully functional and has been serving the needs of the Guyanese population.

The Lab is not only the largest but the most advanced of any such laboratory in all of the Caribbean. CHI Lab has since been catering to procedures such as cardiac catherisation and the insertion of cardiac stents, pacemakers, defibrillators and heart valve through the groin. All the procedures were performed by Dr. Mahendra Carphen, Cardialogist attached to the CHI.

The Ministry of Public Health and the Caribbean Heart Institute are currently finalizing an agreement which will allow for emergency procedures to be done and a subvention will be made to the CHI for the cost incurred.

The establishment of the CHI has taken cardiac health care to another level ever since it opened its doors in 2006.  Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally with an estimated 17.5 million people dying in 2012. This represents 31 per cent of all global deaths with over three quarters of cardiovascular diseases occurring in low and middle income countries.

Guyana has since a recorded reduction in the need for opened heart surgeries.