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CHI looks to take lead role in addressing heart rhythm complications
Through the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), Guyana is gearing to take the lead in the provision of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablations for arrhythmias.
Arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat and the Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation is a procedure that is performed to correct a disturbance in the heart rhythm.
CHI’s Medical Director, Dr. Mahendra Carpen
CHI’s Medical Director, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, has observed that the procedure is not one that is done on a wide scale in the Caribbean. This state of affairs was recently brought to his attention when he attended the 28th Caribbean Cardiac Society Scientific Conference in Curaçao, where he was required to make two oral presentations on the state of Cardiology in Guyana.
But according to Dr. Carpen the issue of arrhythmia was not discussed very much at the forum as a challenge in the Caribbean. In fact, he disclosed that the only presentation on the condition was made by a representative from the Dominican Republic.
“Nothing came out of the English-speaking Caribbean, and that is not surprising, because there is only one other place in the Caribbean that I know of that does any work in Radiofrequency ablations for arrhythmias, and that is Trinidad.”
As such, he noted that this is an avenue that CHI will be seeking to pursue with a view of offering the procedure to not only Guyana, but the English-speaking Caribbean. He related that plans have already been streamlined and it is anticipated that the procedure will be available locally by year end.
According to him, the condition is known to happen mainly in young women and is usually caused by an abnormal electric circuit within the heart. He said that there are many patients who have complaints relating to their “heart racing and palpitation that occurs from time to time.” But although there are medicines that can address the condition, Dr. Carpen pointed out that there could be some side-effects, thus the need for Radiofrequency ablations.
The procedure will be one of several that CHI has introduced since its introduction in 2007, which embraces the fact that “there are lots of interesting things happening regionally in the world of cardiology,” said Dr. Carpen.
He disclosed that at the recent conference it was discovered that while the level of cardiac service here has room for improvement, it is comparable to what is offered elsewhere.
“We are not where we want to be just yet, but we are certainly getting there,” the Medical Director intimated.
“Just from talking to some of the more experienced people around the Region, I was able to learn that some of the challenges that we face now were the same challenges that they faced when they started out their programme, but the general message was to persevere and press on and we will get there.
“I think we are moving a little bit faster than the general trend had been, but there are a lot more tools; a lot more guidance is available now that facilitates more rapid advancement.”
And given the fact that CHI was recognised for its high volume of patients at the Cardiac Conference, Dr. Carpen said that he was approached there to help facilitate training for some physicians from a few islands.
“We see lots of very unique problems in Guyana, and so the training opportunity is here… and in a short time we do expect these physicians and even members of their teams will come over here and start to be trained,” he disclosed.
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