UGMC undertakes first cardiac catheterization surgery on three children

A Ghanaian Cardiac Paediatrician Specialist, with support from the Global Heart Care, has performed the first cardiac catheterization surgery on three children who had different kinds of heart complications, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).   

Cardiac catheterization is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is guided through a blood vessel to the heart to diagnose or treat certain heart conditions, such as clogged arteries or irregular heartbeats.   

Using the Philip Asurion 7 technology, the surgeon, with the team, performed successful surgeries on the children in about two hours.  

Thereafter, the children were on admission for on an average of three days.  

Globally, about one in every 100 children is born with one heart complication or another.   

Professor Nana Akyaa Yao, Consultant, Paediatric and Congenital Cardiologist, the only paediatric cardiologist in Ghana, told journalists that cardiac catheterization surgery was the safest heart surgery because it minimized complications.  

The procedure involves accessing the heart through blood vessels in the legs of the patients with tiny wires, diagnosing and dealing with the problem.   

She said more of such surgeries could be performed when there were more such medical facilities and logistics.  

Prof Yao, therefore, called for investments in such health infrastructure and training to improve cardiac paediatric care.      

Dr. Darius Osei, Chief Executive Officer of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), said the Centre had successfully performed more than 30 heart surgeries. However, “This is the first time it has performed a cardiac catheterization surgery.” 

He said the Hospital was working with some organisations to perform more surgeries for children with heart complications.  

Source:  GNA