Since 1994, the Interventional Cardiology Unit of the Fundación Valle del Lili It has played an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease and structural heart disease, becoming a reference center in the Department of Valle del Cauca and its surroundings.
In order to offer a better service every day, it has been institutional policy to invest in technologies that allow the Unit and the hemodynamics laboratory to remain at the forefront to address the main cause of mortality in the country, which is cardiovascular diseases.
One of the most frequent procedures is coronary arteriography, popularly known as cardiac catheterization. This technique, generally performed on patients with myocardial infarction or angina, is used in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease (heart arteries) and consists of inserting a catheter, under local anesthesia, through the radial artery (in the wrist) or the femoral artery in the groin.
Through the injection of a contrast medium, the treatment to restore normal blood flow to the heart can be determined, which usually consists of coronary angioplasty, which is the treatment of stenosis (narrowing) with a balloon or implant of coronary stents (a prosthesis or circular mesh that dilates the obstruction so that the artery recovers its normal size and function).
Coronary arteriography has limitations, especially in determining whether a moderate coronary obstruction (between
When a coronary artery shows a 40% to 70% obstruction, it is truly significant and potentially dangerous for the patient, as it only provides anatomical information about the artery. Therefore, intravascular techniques have been introduced to aid in a more precise diagnosis. These techniques consist of fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), which allow doctors to determine which patients would be candidates for coronary stent implantation.
Fractional flow reserve (FFR) aids in the functional assessment of obstructions, determining whether they are truly significant for classifying patients who may or may not benefit from coronary stent implantation. This technique is performed during the same catheterization and through the same access, introducing a pressure guidewire to obtain a cutoff value or point for determining the need for angioplasty. This procedure has become so relevant that it has become the gold standard for evaluating moderate obstructions, which is why several countries have regulations requiring its use as a basis for deciding on coronary stent implantation.
Intravascular ultrasound is also performed during catheterization, using a special catheter that emits an ultrasound wave to visualize the artery from the inside, revealing the characteristics of each of its layers. This allows doctors to assess the degree of actual arterial obstruction, observe atherosclerotic plaques (fatty deposits), their composition, and determine if they pose a risk of rupture that could cause a myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Intravascular ultrasound is also used to verify that the stent implantation was performed correctly, with the precise size and length, and that it adhered well to the vessel walls, thus reducing the possibility of a new obstruction or the formation of thrombi (blood clots) that completely occlude the vessel and cause new cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction or sudden death.
These techniques benefit the patients who are treated daily at La Fundación Valle del Liliallowing them to receive a much more accurate diagnosis and more appropriate treatment, with better results in the medium and long term.
With the introduction of these new technologies, the Institution's hemodynamics laboratory, with its medical and paramedical staff, remains committed to providing high-quality service, meeting the most rigorous national and international healthcare standards and maintaining the necessary balance between technology and human-centered care that users deserve.
Appointment information: 602 3319090 ext. 7046
