One million residents south of the Fraser will now have access to lifesaving cardiac catheterization on this side of the river – at Surrey Memorial Hospital
Within the next 18 months, Surrey Memorial Hospital will have two cardiac catheterization labs (cath labs), where cardiac specialists will perform minimally invasive tests and advanced life saving cardiac procedures.
WITH EVERY BIRTHDAY, YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE INCREASES
Heart disease is already the No. 1 cause of death among people 65 and older and is poised to become even more common in the years ahead, exacting an enormous toll on the health and quality of life for older Canadians.
NOWHERE WILL THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE BE FELT MORE ACUTELY THAN IN THE FRASER HEALTH REGION
In the Fraser Health region, the growth in the aging population will be the fastest and the largest of all health authorities in the province. Surrey also boasts one of the largest concentrations of South Asian residents in North America and studies have shown that people of South Asian descent can have four times the risk of heart disease compared to the general population and can develop the disease up to a decade earlier.
HOW WILL A CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LAB HELP?
Interventional cardiologists will be able to diagnose and treat problems in your heart and blood vessels before they cause larger issues, such as a heart attack or stroke. And in the case of a completely blocked coronary artery (STEMI), urgent intervention in a cardiac cath lab could mean the difference between life and death.
HOW CAN I BE PART OF THE SOLUTION?
Along with our cardiology team, Surrey Hospitals Foundation has been actively advocating for cardiac catheterization for the last year or so. And now, we are proud to partner with the Fraser Health Authority and the Provincial Government in supporting and fundraising for our cardiac catheterization labs.
Up until now, Surrey residents and those south of the Fraser (about 1 million people in total) had to travel to Vancouver (VGH, St. Paul’s) or New Westminster (Royal Columbian) to receive heart treatments in one of their cardiac catheterization labs (Cath Lab). This put us at a disadvantage, especially in those circumstances when rapid interventions were needed.
On June 7, the Minister of Health announced the following addition for Surrey Memorial Hospital:
Surrey likely has the greatest burden of heart disease in all of BC:
• It is the 2nd largest city in British Columbia and within the next several years, it is projected to surpass Vancouver and become the largest city in the province.
• In Fraser Health, the growth in the aging population will be the fastest and the largest of all health authorities in the province.
• Surrey boasts one of the largest concentrations of South Asian residents in North America and studies have shown that people of South Asian descent can have four times the risk of heart disease compared to the general population. They can develop the disease up to a decade earlier.
Given these factors, it is only right that we be able to diagnose and deliver life saving cardiac treatments right here, close to home.
With your help, we will be able to do just that.
…The Province will be creating a plan for a cardiac catheterization lab (two suites and ancillary space) for completion within 18 months.
Heart disease includes many diseases that affect your heart, but Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common and familiar one. CAD refers to the buildup of plaque in the heart’s arteries that could lead to a heart attack, heart failure, or death.
Every hour, about 14 Canadian adults age 20 and over with diagnosed heart disease die - cardiovascular disease is second only to cancer in the lives it takes.
A large percentage of the population is at risk of developing CAD or experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or other CAD-related crisis:
• Nine in 10 Canadians older than age 20 have at least one risk factor for CAD.
• Four in 10 Canadians have three or more risk factors for CAD.
• Women and men share most risk factors, but the significance of these risk factors are different in men and women.
• In addition, people of South Asian descent can have four times the risk of heart disease compared to the general population, and they can develop the disease up to a decade earlier.
• Lifestyle changes
• Medicines
• Surgeries or procedures, one of the most common being cardiac catheterization
WHAT IS CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION?
In cardiac catheterization, a heart specialist puts a very small, flexible, hollow tube (called a catheter) into a blood vessel in the groin, arm, or neck. Then they thread it through the blood vessel into the aorta and into the heart.
Once the catheter is in place, tests to assess the heart muscle, heart valves and blood vessels in the heart are undertaken. Depending upon the findings, the cardiologist can then immediately deliver life saving treatments, the most common being angioplasty and stent placement.
WHAT IS ANGIOPLASTY AND STENT PLACEMENT?
For angioplasty, the catheter has a tiny balloon at its tip. Once the catheter is in place, the balloon is inflated at the narrowed area of the heart artery. This presses the plaque or blood clot against the sides of the artery, making more room for blood flow.
Coronary stent placements are now used in nearly all angioplasty procedures. A stent is a tiny, expandable metal mesh coil. It is put into the newly opened area of the artery to help keep the artery from narrowing or closing again – kind of like erecting scaffolding inside an artery.
These common, minimally invasive treatments for CAD take place in a catheterization lab.
A cardiac catheterization lab (cath lab) is a specialized area in the hospital where doctors perform minimally invasive tests and advanced cardiac procedures as previously described.
The cardiac cath lab is equipped with state-of-the-art imaging technology used to view the arteries and check how well blood is flowing to and from the heart. The suites are normally side-by-side with the control room in the middle. Cath labs consist of a patient table, image intensifier or flat panel detector, viewing monitors, an injector pump, angioplasty balloons and a defibrillator. They also have an X-ray image intensifier for fluoroscopic imaging and a single X-ray generator source.
STEMI stands for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction. It is a very serious type of heart attack where the coronary artery is completely blocked.
Rapid cardiac intervention (e.g. opening the blockage using a balloon catheter and/or implanted stent) is the most effective treatment for saving the heart muscle and often saving a life.
Health professionals actually measure the time starting from when the patient arrives in the Emergency Department, to the time when the blockage is opened. It is known as “door-toballoon” or “door to reperfusion” time.
Every minute counts when working to save heart muscle and possibly even a life. A cath lab for Surrey means better, faster treatments that will save lives.
Surrey Hospitals Foundation is proud to partner with the Fraser Health Authority and the Provincial Government in supporting and fundraising for our cardiac catheterization labs.
Polling of donors in the community has indicated there is widespread support for this service. Now we are asking you to make a donation to help build our cardiac catheterization labs.
We are looking to raise $7 million to help equip and build the cardiac catheterization labs.
Thank you for your consideration.
Surrey Hospitals Foundation 13750 96 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3V 1Z2
Reg #89126 8740 RR0001
SurreyHospitalsFoundation.com
Surrey Hospitals Foundation will focus their effort in the coming months on working with the community to raise funds for the cardiac catheterization labs, but is important to note that the health minister’s June 7th announcement included additional investments in Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre. These included:
A new computerized tomography scanner (CT), A new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, A second interventional radiology suite at Surrey Memorial Hospital, which will enable stroke and cardiac specialty expansion, Expanded renal services, Completion of renovations of existing operating rooms to expand capacity, and Renovation to the pediatric emergency waiting area.
