DANVILLE, Va. (July 15, 2010) - Danville Regional Medical Center continues its focus on improving cardiac care for patients with an approximately one million dollar investment in its heart catheterization laboratory. Danville Regional’s new catheterization laboratory features the most advanced technology available.

Cardiac catheterizations are performed by inserting a catheter into a patient’s arm or leg under X-ray guidance and then directing the catheter to the heart or coronary arteries. The procedures are used to determine how well the heart and arteries are functioning, as well as to help determine causes of chest pain.

The new catheterization laboratory utilizes state-of-the-art Philips Medical Systems imaging, which ensures improved image quality combined with a lower patient X-ray dose.

“This advanced technology allows our staff to perform new procedures, including advanced cardiac and vascular procedures, said Danville Regional CEO Eric Deaton. “Our Danville Regional staff and Duke Medicine physicians are very impressed with our new technology, and believe this will enhance the quality cardiac care already being provided at Danville Regional.”

Danville Regional’s cardiac catheterization lab currently performs more than 1,400 procedures a year, and the number is likely to increase as the new technology allows for more efficient and advanced procedures.

“The new lab equipment allows us to see clearer and more enhanced images of what is going on inside the coronary vessels and the peripheral vessels.  We can now do peripheral vascular (any disorder that affects any of the blood vessels caused by build-up of fatty material within the vessels) procedures here at the hospital,” according to Dr. Gary Miller.  Dr. Miller is a cardiologist at Danville Regional and uses this new state-of-the-art system. 

“We really are able to perform additional procedures with great clarity as a result of this advanced technology.  Peripheral vascular disease is a leading cause of disability among people 50 years and older and in those with diabetes.  About 10 million people in the United States suffer from peripheral vascular disease with the numbers expected to grow as the population ages,” Dr. Boshra Zakhary, cardiologist, said. 

Danville Regional is the leading medical center in the Dan River Region of Virginia and North Carolina, providing open heart surgery and advanced cancer treatment. Approximately 140 physicians are on the medical staff. The medical center employs approximately 1,200 people.
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