FOR patients facing a heart attack, heart failure or other serious cardiac conditions, timely access to specialised care can be critical. At the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the Cardiology Department serves as Guyana’s main referral centre for the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of heart disease.
The department provides care for patients with both acute and chronic cardiac conditions, ranging from those requiring emergency intervention to persons managing heart disease over many years.
According to Head of Cardiology, Dr Michael Chin, the department operates a 13-bed Coronary Care Unit (CCU) for patients experiencing serious cardiac emergencies, while also offering specialised clinics for general cardiology, heart failure, patients who have undergone coronary interventions, congenital heart disease and heart disease associated with pregnancy.
One of the most common conditions treated is coronary artery disease, which occurs when the blood vessels supplying the heart become narrowed or blocked.
Patients can present with chest pain or arrive at hospital experiencing a heart attack and may require urgent investigation and treatment.
However, the department’s work extends beyond heart attacks.
It also manages heart failure, in which the heart cannot pump blood as effectively as it should; arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation; heart valve disorders; and congenital heart conditions.
RANGE OF DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
Identifying cardiac problems often requires specialised investigations to determine how the heart is functioning.
The department uses electrocardiograms (ECGs) to record the heart’s electrical activity, while echocardiograms use ultrasound to assess the structure and function of the heart. Stress testing is also used to investigate certain patients experiencing chest pain.
For patients requiring examination of the heart’s blood vessels, doctors may perform coronary angiography. In emergency situations such as a heart attack caused by a blocked artery, the procedure can help identify the blockage and, where appropriate, allow doctors to restore blood flow through the insertion of a stent.
Some patients may require a pacemaker to regulate a heart that is beating too slowly, while others with certain abnormal heart rhythms may undergo specialised assessment and treatment through an electrophysiology study.
TEAM-BASED APPROACH TO CARDIAC CARE
The department’s services rely on a multidisciplinary team comprising cardiologists, junior doctors, internal medicine and cardiology residents, specialist nurses, sonographers, ECG technicians and personnel involved in stress testing.
The team works together to provide coordinated care from diagnosis through treatment and follow-up.
Dr Chin said effective cardiology care involves more than responding to emergencies, stressing the importance of ensuring that patients receive appropriate and consistent care throughout their treatment.
The department follows international clinical guidelines when making decisions about medications, investigations and interventions, with the aim of reducing complications, illness and deaths associated with cardiovascular disease.
CONTINUED TRAINING
As cardiac medicine continues to advance, ongoing professional development remains an important component of the department’s work.
Doctors and nurses participate in continued training to maintain clinical skills, keep abreast of developments in cardiac medicine and share knowledge across the wider healthcare team.
For patients and families across Guyana, the availability of specialised cardiac services at GPHC provides an important link in the national health system, particularly for complex conditions requiring specialist investigation and treatment.
The department’s work also highlights the importance of recognising cardiovascular risks early and seeking medical attention when symptoms occur.
While specialised treatment can be critical when cardiac disease develops, prevention and early detection remain important in reducing the impact of heart disease on individuals, families and communities.
Through its combination of specialist expertise, diagnostic technology, coordinated care and continuing professional development, the GPHC Cardiology Department continues to provide cardiac services to patients referred from across Guyana.