Coronary angioplasty procedures are now being performed at Hospital Pablo Soria, following an investment by the provincial government of Jujuy in new medical equipment. The Ministry of Health of Jujuy announced that the hospital’s cardiology and hemodynamics teams have begun using a newly acquired digital angiograph to carry out catheter-based coronary interventions. These procedures have enabled the recovery of patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction.
This is the first time that public healthcare in Jujuy has access to a state-of-the-art digital angiograph, which is one of only two such devices in Argentina and is currently the most advanced in the northwest region. The equipment can be used for cardiac, peripheral vascular, and neurological conditions. Its acquisition is part of the province’s Strategic Health Plan II, overseen by Minister Gustavo Bouhid and approved by Governor Carlos Sadir.
Matías Farfán, head of Hemodynamics at Hospital Pablo Soria, explained: “Diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are already being carried out for various cardiovascular situations, especially assisting patients with acute myocardial infarction during its early stages. We perform coronary angioplasties with stent implantation within appropriate timeframes, thereby reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among uninsured patients who were previously referred to private care with delays that affected their prognosis.”
Farfán added: “In collaboration with the Provincial Network for Acute Myocardial Infarction (IAM), we were able to perform three coronary angioplasties on patients suffering heart attacks within one week, all with successful outcomes.” He also stated that the team aims to expand services to include procedures such as peripheral vascular interventions for diabetic foot, more complex cardiac and neurological cases, as well as treatments related to arrhythmias and chronic kidney disease.
The introduction of this technology into the public health system provides significant benefits by allowing individuals without medical coverage access to hemodynamic studies, stent placement, treatment for acute myocardial infarction, and endoprosthesis implantation.
Luis Freijo, head of Coronary Care at Hospital Pablo Soria said: “Working together with IAM Network, our goal is optimal care for acute myocardial infarction. This sudden blockage can be resolved mechanically or pharmacologically; according to international standards, angioplasty is preferred—and today it can be done publicly in Jujuy from our hospital.”
Freijo noted that between 800 and 1,000 heart attacks occur annually in Jujuy Province—with an annual increase between 20% and 21%—and many are treated within the public health system. He emphasized that thanks to this advancement there is now a quality response available through these procedures.
