PNG’s first success story!

Pacific International Hospital successfully pulled off a first primary angioplasty case for the country last Saturday.

Patient is a 44-year-old mine worker from one of PNG’s biggest mines.

Alwas Lagot from East New Britain is a supervisor - asset protection at Lihir Mine in New Ireland Province.

He had suffered a massive heart attack last Thursday and was medivaced to PIH on Saturday.

Dr. Uthirapathy Nagarajan, PIH in-house interventional cardiologist, performed this incredible medical feature by successfully removing the clot and placing a stent in one of the major blood vessel of the heart that had almost 99% blockage.

Doctors say any further delay would have led to another massive heart attack, irretrievable damage to the heart muscles, and invariably a fatality.

Loop PNG visited the patient today, who is under observation at the ICU.

He is expected to leave by Thursday this week.

Primary angioplasty is the ‘world standard’ in best practice in the management of an acute heart attack and is life and heart muscle saving.

“Many part of the world people don’t get this benefit even if you’re in a big city, with a big hospital and a big team available,” said Dr Suresh Venkita, cardiologist and medical director.

“Alwas is lucky. And it’s a huge leap forward for medical care for the country.”

This is a great achievement for PIH and PNG as a developing country.

Author: 
Gloria Bauai