New cardiac facility at Royal Hospital in Oman

Muscat: A new treatment in the field of heart and artery diseases has been launched recently by the National Centre for Medicine and Heart Surgery at Royal Hospital.
It is considered the first-of-its-kind in the Sultanate, and it involves inserting a cauterizing catheter through the outer wall of the heart. The treatment is specific to patients who suffer irregular heart beat, and sudden heart attacks.
This catheter treatment is conducted by a team of doctors from the national heart diseases centre at the Royal hospital, including Dr Najib Zahran Al Rawahi, Dr Ismail Al Ibri, and Dr Ghalia Al Mouhani, electrocardiography consultants, in collaboration with anaesthesiologists, nurses and technicians, and supervised by the director of the Texas Centre for Cardiac Arrhythmia, in the United States, Professor Andrea Natale. On this treatment technique, electrocardiography consultant Dr. Al Ibri said, “It involves putting the patient under full anaesthesia, then inserting very delicate and flexible sensors through a small incision in the lower rib cage.
“The sensor continues on its course until it reaches the heart muscle. Once it reaches the heart cavity causing the irregular heartbeat, the area is cauterised. This kind of catheter treatment is thoroughly monitored through a 3D heart imaging machine.”
Dr. Al Ibri indicated that this catheter treatment is the latest of its kind at the international level in the treatment of heart disorders, and it contributes heavily to the reduction of sudden cardiac arrest, and results in less complications. This results in a shorter length of hospital stay for patients, as well as a quicker return to normal life activities following the procedure, he added.
Dr. Al Rawahi explained that there is a range of challenges facing the medical staff when performing an invasive surgery, most important is the limited accessibility to the heart cavity, while the heart is still beating. He also said that there is an urgent need for specialists in the treatment of heart disorders, and the availability of competent medical staff like technicians and nurses in the field of catheter treatments, stressing that these kind of treatments are conducted in very select centres worldwide.
Professor Andrea Natale expressed his admiration for the capabilities and efficiency of the team which performed the catheter surgery, and the Royal Hospital’s impressive wealth resources and equipment. He commended the efforts of the staff in terms of patient care, and their communication skills throughout his experience.