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Over 1,000 life saving heart procedures performed at SAH

Construction of the SAH cardiac catheterization lab expansion is progressing and is on track for a November 2023 opening of a second catheterization lab
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The Sault Area Hospital area where angioplasty is performed.

There are some positive numbers to report from Sault Area Hospital regarding cardiac care that it provides to patients.

SAH completed 1,055 PCI procedures from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022.

PCI - percutaneous coronary intervention, also known as angioplasty - is a life saving procedure in which a catheter is inserted into the heart of a cardiac patient to open up clogged blood vessels.

In addition, construction of the SAH cardiac catheterization lab expansion is progressing and is on track for a November 2023 opening of a second catheterization lab, wrote Brandy Sharp Young, SAH spokesperson in an email.

Sault MPP Ross Romano announced nearly $6.4 million in provincial government funding in Sept. 2022 for a renovation and expansion of SAH’s cardiac catheterization lab.

The addition of the second cardiac cath lab will allow SAH to complete nearly 2,400 procedures each year once fully operational, including coronary angiograms, angioplasty, cardiac stenting and pacemaker services.

“In an emergency we’ll be able to run two rooms at once. This is vital for the work we need to do. There is a growing need that is projected for Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma that we will address over time,” said Sue Roger, SAH vice president of clinical operations and chief nursing executive when the Romano funding announcement came.

Currently, SAH cardiologists work at the cath lab while also being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The SAH physicians are assisted by cardiologists from Toronto’s St. Michael's Hospital who work at SAH on a rotational basis.  

SAH’s partnership with St. Michael's Hospital has been in effect since SAH first made angioplasty procedures available in the Sault in August 2018. 


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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