Another life-saving first: 66-year-old woman survives severe heart disease through Western Visayas’ first heart lithotripsy at TMC Iloilo
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Cardiovascular care in Western Visayas has reached a new milestone with the successful performance of the region’s first Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) at The Medical City (TMC) Iloilo on July 23.
IVL is a minimally invasive procedure that uses pulses of sound waves—similar to those used in breaking kidney stones—to crack hardened calcium deposits inside heart arteries. This opens the blood vessels, making it easier for doctors to insert a stent if needed, ensuring the artery stays open and blood flows freely.
The patient, a 66-year-old woman with hypertension and a family history of coronary artery disease, was referred by Dr. Regina Elena Bisnar-Regalado after a positive dobutamine stress echocardiogram indicated reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. She was diagnosed with severe three-vessel coronary artery disease and later underwent a high-risk, complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (angioplasty) using intravascular ultrasound-optimized stenting with coronary IVL.
Today, she is on the road to full recovery, back to her daily routines with the support of her doctors, family, and friends.
This breakthrough was made possible through the recent introduction of Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS), the most advanced of its kind in the region. IVUS delivers detailed images of the patient’s arteries, revealing plaque buildup and vessel dimensions, enabling the medical team to craft a more targeted and precise treatment strategy.
With IVL and IVUS now available in Iloilo, patients with complex coronary conditions can access advanced interventional procedures without traveling outside the region. These innovations not only reduce the need for coronary bypass in certain cases but also promote faster recovery and shorter hospital stays.
As cardiovascular technology continues to evolve, TMC Iloilo remains committed to making life-saving care more accessible to the community. By expanding its capabilities in interventional cardiology, the hospital aims to provide timely, high-quality treatment, helping patients return to their loved ones stronger and sooner.
Western Visayas’ first IVL was performed by a collaborative team led by TMC Interventional Cardiologists Dr. Kristy Garganera-Tugbang (TMC Iloilo) and Dr. James Diaz (TMC Ortigas), TMC Iloilo Anesthesiologist Dr. Felix Ruzen Fandinola, and the skilled staff of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by The Medical City.
