Penghu Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, inaugurated its Center for Cardiac Catheterization at the hospital’s outpatient clinic lobby in the morning of Dec. 4, 2013. Right after the inauguration, at noon, an 83-year-old female patient was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction and transferred from Emergency Department to the Center. The team at the Center timely performed a surgery through cardiac catheterization, which was a first in Penghu, an offshore island. At present the patient is in a stable condition, staying in the intensive care unit. The surgery was a great success, advancing a major step forward and turning a new page in medical care in Penghu. 

Tai-Hong Guo, superintendent of the hospital, points out that the team of the Center is currently led by Dr. Xian-Sheng Chen, director of Cardiovascular Imaging Center of the hospital. Guo is delighted that the Center completed its first case of cardiac catheterization on the very day of its inauguration, and later completed 2 cases of thrombectomy of arteriovenous shunt on hemodialysis patients. Guo hopes it will make greater contribution to local healthcare in Penghu, and efficiently reduce the need for transferring patients with acute myocardial infarction by helicopter. 

Dr. Chen states that Ms. Ou, an 83-year-old lady who complained of chest pain, was brought yesterday (December 4) morning to Emergency Department of Penghu branch, Tri-Service General Hospital. Physicians in Emergency Department administered initial treatment and tentatively diagnosed the patient as having acute myocardial infarction. As the patient was hypotensive, the Penghu branch of Tri-Service General Hospital administered initial emergent treatment. At noon it called the Emergency Department of Penghu Hospital, asking if the patient could undergo a surgery of cardiac catheterization. A response was granted by Penghu Hospital immediately, and the patient was transferred and accepted. The cardiac catheterization team of the hospital performed a surgery of cardiac catheterization and successfully placed a stent. At present the patient is in a stable condition and being treated in the intensive care unit. Chen believes that the establishment will definitely bring further improvements to the healthcare quality in Penghu in the future.