Thunder Bay expands angioplasty services

A second angioplasty suite has been approved for Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

An investment of $8 million will fund a second cardiac catheterization lab, which will improve service to residents of northwestern Ontario, who currently have one of the highest rates of cardiac disease in the province.

Prior to the arrival of interventional cardiologist Dr. Mark Henderson in September 2008, the Health Science Centre only performed angiograms. For every 100 patients who receive angiograms, approximately one-third require an angioplasty, said Arlene Thomson, manager of the hospital's cardiac catheterization lab.

There were as many as 450 patient transfers annually for angioplasty or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a specialized procedure to open up a coronary artery narrowed due to plaque build-up. Now, 99 per cent of patients in need of angioplasty receive the service in Thunder Bay. Since September, Henderson has treated more than 200 people.

The addition of a second lab will allow the hospital to expand its services to 24/7 emergency capacity. Currently, there are limited emergency services.

"We've gone to running our catheterization lab to 12 hours a day, six days a week," said Thomson. "It's not very sustainable. We need two labs to run the program."

Plans to hire another interventional cardiologist by June of this year are underway. Once the second lab opens and the physical resources are in place, a third interventional cardiologist will be brought on board.

Approximately 7,400 square feet within the hospital will be developed to accommodate the new equipment and services adjacent to the original catheterization lab. As well, three in-patient care rooms on the cardiac ward will be converted to a larger, five- to six-bed PCI observation area. "Lost" in-patient beds will be reclaimed with an additional level built over an adjacent single-level patient care area, said Thomson.

Nurse practitioner Grace Fox will be joining the expanding cardiac program to provide case management and patient education.

"She will ensure that patients receive all the information and support they will need after discharge," said Thomson. "Grace's role will become an integral link between patients, families, cardiac team members and physicians."