Pediatric cardiac surgeries on f congenital anomalies will be conducted at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City starting May, Dr. Julius Drilon, CLMMRH chief, said Monday, March 8.
Drilon said they have started screening patients up to 7 years old for cardiac surgeries, which could include open-heart procedures.
They had been referring at least five pediatric cardiac cases a week for surgery at the Philippine Heart Center and the Philippine General Hospital, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it hard for patients to go there now so some just die, he said.
He said the start of the cardiac surgeries at the CLMMRH had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, that held up the training of the regional hospital’s doctors at the Philippine Heart Center.
The operating rooms at the CLMMRH are being upgraded and they are purchasing equipment worth P1.5 million for the pediatric cardiac surgeries, Drilon said.
CLMMRH has 10 operating rooms, and is adding more, he said.
We have to move on beyond COVID-19 by upgrading the services of CLMMRH, he said.
They are also advancing their vascular procedures at CLMMRH, he said.
We have the doctors on board, it is a matter of completing the required equipment, Drilon said.
This is proof that we did not stop improving despite the COVID pandemic, he said.*