11 August 2009
New treatment for heart attack patients
A new treatment for the most severe form of heart attacks will start in Essex next month.
From 1 September instead of receiving clot buster drugs at their local hospital, patients will be transferred as blue light emergencies to the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon for a procedure to unblock their coronary arteries. The procedure, called primary angioplasty (PPCI), involves tubes being inserted in the arteries of the groin or wrist. The blocked artery is stretched with a balloon before a metal stent is implanted. This emergency service will be available on a 24/7 basis and will replace ‘clot buster’ drugs.
Dr Gerald Clesham, lead consultant cardiologist at Broomfield Hospital, said: “Studies have shown that patients do better after angioplasty procedures compared with clot buster drugs. I work at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre as well as Broomfield Hospital and I am pleased that my patients will be getting a better treatment when this service starts.”
Patients will be transferred immediately to the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre for the emergency procedure without being admitted to Broomfield first. Some patients will be transferred back to Broomfield if further rehabilitation is needed.
Dr Clesham adds: “We are lucky to have a new, state of the art facility at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon from which to provide this service for our patients.”
Primary angioplasty is being rolled out across the country as the preferred treatment for heart attack patients and specialist ‘heart attack centres’ are being developed in many regions.
ENDS
Media contact : Jo Triggs tel: (01245) 514235 | Mobile : 0790 005 4948
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