KMC Duwakot completes first successful heart angiogram
The achievement came as a 69-year-old local resident of Inacho, Bhaktapur Municipality, became the first patient to receive successful cardiac treatment at the new facility.
KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Medical College (KMC) Teaching Hospital’s second unit in Duwakot, Bhaktapur, has completed its first-ever cardiac diagnostic procedure, marking a major milestone in specialised heart care services outside the capital’s core medical hubs.
The achievement came as a 69-year-old local resident of Inacho, Bhaktapur Municipality, became the first patient to receive successful cardiac treatment at the new facility.
The patient, identified as Masinu Makaju, had been suffering from chest and abdominal pain and was brought to the hospital by his son for further evaluation.
A specialised team of cardiologists, including Dr. Sahadev Dhungana and Dr. Pabindra Tamang, conducted a detailed cardiac assessment.
The team successfully performed a diagnostic coronary angiogram in the hospital’s newly equipped catheterisation laboratory (cath lab).
The procedure, which lasted around 30 minutes, revealed blockages in two coronary arteries.
Doctors expressed satisfaction over the successful completion of the hospital’s first angiogram procedure. According to the medical team, the patient’s condition is currently stable.
Further treatment, including the possible placement of stents to open the blocked arteries, has been advised in consultation with the patient’s family.
An angiogram is a specialised imaging test used to evaluate the condition of the coronary arteries and determine whether there are blockages that could lead to a heart attack.
Medical experts note that chest pain does not always indicate a heart attack, and such diagnostic procedures are essential for accurate assessment and timely treatment.
With the establishment of advanced cardiac facilities at KMC Duwakot, services such as heart attack management, cardiac surgery, angioplasty, stent placement, and valve-related treatments are now available locally, significantly reducing the need for patients to travel to central hospitals.
The new unit was inaugurated in Duwakot under the initiative of Nepali Congress leader Dr. Sunil Sharma, expanding access to specialised healthcare services for residents of Bhaktapur and surrounding regions.
