FV Hospital in HCM City on Thursday inaugurated a multi-functional catheterisation laboratory equipped with new-generation Philips FD20 x-ray machine.

The hospital said the cathlab, which cost US$1.6 million, is part of its efforts to improve its capacity in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases.

The facility will be used to support vascular, image diagnostics and other departments.

Dr Huynh Ngoc Long, head of the vascular department, said the lab would be vital in diagnosing diseases related to coronary arteries.

In the image diagnostic department, the lab will assist the treatment of cancers by using radiofrequency ablation or trans-arterial chemoembolisation.

In future the hospital said the lab would also be used to assist treatment of problems related to cranial blood vessels.

FV said last month, after getting approval to open, the lab was used to treat a Philippine suffering from coronary disease. — VNS