CHK to set up cardiac emergency unit

The Department of Cardiology, Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) has planned to establish a full fledged Emergency Coronary Care-Cum-Diagnostic Unit with state-of-the-art facilities, to provide immediate cardiac treatment to patients at the hospital, as there is no such unit except NICVD even in private sector hospitals.
The project will be completed in one year at a cost of Rs 4.5 million. Funds will be provided by NGO "CARE" formed three years ago by cardiac associates for the rehabilitation of cardiac patients. Construction work will be started in January 2005.
The Head of the Department of Cardiology CHK Professor Khalida Soomro told newsmen on Sunday that existing PWD office building was sanctioned in 2000 by the then Medical Superintendent of the hospital, while building plan had also been approved by higher authorities.
She said at first phase, project would have 8-bedded Patient Emergency Unit, Nurses Station, Oxygen Cylinder Room, Stretcher Wheel Chair Room, Examination Roon, Doctors Rest Room, two stores and four toilets, while additional floors would also be constructed later.
"Government has commitment to provide equipment of worth Rs 5 million for this unit. But still we need a portable x-ray machine, image intensifier machine and two ventilators for new unit," she said.
She said after functioning of the facility, approximately 75 percent of patients would be provided immediate cardiac care, which was presently lacking.
"Around 50 percent of cardiac deaths occurs due to non-availability of immediate emergency care. A patient who rushed to casualty department of CHK with some cardiac problem usually refer to cardiac department after 6-8 hours," she added.
Dr Khalida, who is also General Secretary of CARE said after functioning of new cardiac emergency unit, "If a patient approaches the unit within one to three hours of cardiac arrest or other emergency, we will be able to save primary angioplasty with the help of angioplasty machine, which will be installed at the department in next few months," she told.
She said patients would be injected life saving injection for cardiac patients "Strepoto Kinase" free of cost at emergency unit and maximum available facilities would also be provided free of cost.
"CARE is already bearing regular expenses of equipment, installed at the department and many diagnostic procedures are available, including BP monitoring ambulatory, Electrocadiogram EKG, X-Ray, Stress testing ETT, Stre/Bobutamine Echocardiography, Holter monitoring, Cardiac catherisation/coronary angio and peripheral angiography etc," she said.