A new robotic technology used in stent procedures has been carried out at University Hospital Galway — the first of its kind in Ireland.
The Robotic Guided Coronary Intervention combines the benefits of coronary intervention with the precision of robotics.
It allows cardiologists to move the stent one millimetre at a time.
It also gives the medical team an enhanced, close up view of the angiographic images and information during the entire procedure.
The new technology allows Interventional Cardiologists to use the robot as an extension of their own hand, allowing for robotic precision and details visualization when positioning of guide catheters, guidewires and balloon/stent catheters.
Prof Faisal Sharif, Consultant Cardiologist, who carried out the first procedure in UHG, welcomed the addition of the CorPath Robotic Angioplasy as a game-changer.
“Robotic innovation has come a long way in the last decade. And we in Galway are delighted to have performed the first Robotic Guided Coronary Intervention in Ireland and the UK,” he said.
“The main advantage of robotics is that it is safe and very precise in stent placement. It allows the accurate placement for up to 1 mm at a time.”
The use of robotics in the procedure will also benefit staff, reducing their exposure to radiation.
“Traditionally, the coronary stent placement procedure is performed in the Cardiac Cath Lab resulting in staff exposure to radiation. The second main advantage of using Robotics is the reduction in radiation exposure for the staff,” added Prof Sharif.
“We recently successfully completed the first case and going forward we will be performing these procedures regularly.
“I would like to thank Science Foundation Ireland, University of Galway and University Hospital Galway for their support towards this innovation.”
