Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) will finally get a new catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) by this month end. Estimated to cost Rs 10 crore, the lab, which has been a long pending demand, would have a single-plane and a bi-plane cath lab facilities, said officials at the hospital.CMCH dean Dr B Asokan said the single-plane cath lab will be used for diagnosis and intervention of coronary and cardiac conditions and the bi-plane cath lab for neurosurgical procedures such as interventions in intracranial aneurysms, clipping and coiling procedures.“The single-plane cath lab has already been installed and trials have been going on for the past one month. So far, we have done coronary angiogram and stenting on 80 patients,” Asokan said.The single-plane cath lab would be inaugurated on March 31 by health minister C Vijayabaskar and municipal administration minster S P Velumani. The bi-plane cath lab is expected to be installed within a month.While the single-plane cath lab was set up at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore, the bi-plane cath lab would cost Rs 6.5 crore, the CMCH dean said. He added that the facility would be of great help to underprivileged patients from almost four districts, including Nilgiris and Tirupur. “So far patients were dependent on private hospitals for cardiac and coronary procedures as cath labs were not available in government hospitals,” he said.Pointing out that in private hospitals it would cost around Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh for stenting, he said at CMCH it would be free for people who have chief minister’s health insurance.The facility, however, requires certification from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, as the equipment uses X-Rays. “We have successfully applied for the certification last month,” Asokan said.The state had purchased single-plane cath labs for nine government college hospitals. “But CMCH was the first to start trials. Also, after the Omandurar Multi-Specialty Hospital in Chennai, only CHCM has received a bi-plane cath lab,” Asokan said.Doctors at the hospital lauded the move saying there was a rise in cardiac and neurological problems among people under 40 years. The cath lab facility would help in early diagnosis and intervention of neurological conditions, they said.“We see at least two stroke cases daily. People under 40 years suffer sudden stroke. Using the bi-plane cath lab, cranial aneurysms can be detected and early intervention can be provided,” said a senior doctor.

Stay updated with all the Coimbatore Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.