Over 1,000 cardiac procedures were done successfully at the Cath Lab of the Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru in the last nine months since it started its operations in September 2025.
| Photo Credit: Supplied picture
Over 1,000 cardiac procedures were successfully performed at the Government Wenlock Hospital’s cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) in the nine months since it began operations in September 2025.Hospital superintendent D.S. Shivaprakash said the cath lab was established at the hospital on September 21, 2025, under a public-private partnership with Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Mangaluru. “In a short span, the cath lab has emerged as a trusted centre for both emergency and elective cardiac procedures, culminating in the achievement of over 1,000 successful cardiac procedures,” he said.The facility routinely performs coronary procedures such as coronary angiography, primary angioplasty, elective angioplasty, complex coronary interventions, and chronic total occlusion procedures. It also provides emergency cardiac services, including acute myocardial infarction management, temporary pacemaker insertion, emergency coronary interventions, and pericardiocentesis. Apart from patients from Dakshina Kannada, it caters to those from Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Hassan, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Haveri, Davanagere, Chitradurga and Dharwad, as well as from Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep and Uttar Pradesh.Coronary angiography is done free of cost for below poverty line (BPL) patients and for around ₹7,000 for above poverty line (APL) patients. Angioplasty is also doe free for BPL patients, while a single-stent angioplasty costs around ₹42,000 for APL patients and ₹60,000 for patients from outside the State. The Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka Scheme has further improved access to quality healthcare at the lab.The cath lab was established at a cost of around ₹6 crore. Specialised nursing and technical personnel were recruited and trained. “Despite numerous challenges, the determination of all stakeholders ensured the successful establishment of a fully functional cardiac intervention centre,” Dr Shivaprakash said.Among the procedures performed during the period was treatment for a 39-year-old man who was brought to the hospital after a heart attack caused by thrombotic occlusion of the left main coronary artery. Following intensive treatment and care, the patient recovered and is now leading a normal life with his family.A 65-year-old patient was brought to the hospital with acute inferior wall myocardial infarction, complete heart block, severe metabolic acidosis, acute kidney injury and cardiogenic shock. The patient responded well after the insertion of a temporary pacemaker and was discharged a week ago, Dr Shivaprakash said.The cath lab has successfully managed several high-risk coronary interventions, including 100 per cent thrombosis of the left main coronary artery, complex multi vessel coronary artery disease, chronic total occlusions and high-risk angioplasties in patients with multiple comorbidities. This has demonstrated the growing expertise and confidence of the cath lab team in handling advanced coronary interventions, Dr Shivaprakash said. Published - June 29, 2026 06:36 pm IST
