NO ALTERNATIVES TO STENTING: VINNYTSIA EXPERIENCE

Coronary stenting is almost a bloodless surgery that involves minimum risks and does not require long rehabilitation. In fact, it is a progressive panacea for people with vascular diseases or possible infarction. In March alone, 35 free routine coronary angiographies were carried out and 11 free stents were deployed at Vinnytsia Regional Clinical Cardiac Center within the framework of joint implementation of the World Bank investment subproject.

«Based on statistical data 2012, circulatory system diseases in Vinnytsia oblast significantly exceeded the all-Ukraine rate, namely, 6230 patients per 10 thousand of population (all-Ukraine rate being 5839 patients). Among the mortality factors, these diseases were foremost, – says the Head Physician of the Center, Volodymyr Hladkykh. – A year ago, we started compiling an oblast register of patients who require treatment under clinical protocols. Actually, it is a separate dispensary group which is constantly updated and supplemented. What does it provide? It provides control over the situation not available before».

The Center has its own state-of-the-art laboratory and 4 departments: cardiac department for patients with rhythm disturbance, cardiac department for patients with myocardial infarction, X-ray and surgery block and diagnostic outpatient department. The latter is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for electrocardiography, bicycle ergometry, echocardiography and vascular ultrasonography. Here, the pathologies which have not been detected at the primary medical care institutions are correctly assessed.

«I was awaken at 4 a.m. by an acute pain in the chest. I took a sublingual tablet; it did not help, so my wife and I went to the outpatient clinic from where I was urgently sent to the Regional Center; and just imagine, within half an hour, I had a surgery here which is called “stenting”, — says 61-year-old resident of Haisyn, Oleksandr Martseniuk, who was sent by an ambulance to the Center with acute coronary syndrome (infarction).

A resident of Vinnytsia, Valentyna Volozhynska, was luckier. Coming to the Center with the complaint of cardiac pain, she was clinically examined. After that, physicians performed coronary angiography and strongly recommended deployment of a stent.

«The physician said my vessels were worn. If normal stenting was not performed, there was a risk of infarction. Certainly, I agreed. Now I feel quite healthy, my heart does not disturb me! – says Valentyna.

In March alone, 35 free routine coronary angiographies were carried out and 11 free stents were deployed due to the partnership with the World Bank. In addition, 200 kits for coronary angiography and 50 stents will be purchased in the nearest time. This small metal device is deployed in a blocked artery allowing further blood circulation and saving life to a human.

«There is no alternative to stenting at the present time! – assures Ihor Skliarov, Head of X-ray and Surgery Block. — One month after such surgery, a patient gradually increases physical activity, and three months later, (s)he does not differ from a healthy individual. In most cases of myocardial infarction, it allows avoiding disability and prolonging life time improving quality of life».

An ambitious goal of physicians of the Center is to achieve global ratings. 900 stenting procedures per year are already planned in 2020. That’s the figure that can contain cardiovascular disease epidemic. To achieve this goal, a construction of a new, high-capacity Regional Center will start early next year within the framework of the project with the World Bank.

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