Interventional Cardiology Department
Overview
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, surpassing even cancer. In Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Health statistics, about 200,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease, accounting for 33% of all deaths in the country.
The establishment of the Interventional Cardiology Department at the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City aims to provide patients with the most optimal cardiovascular treatment solutions through numerous minimally invasive interventional procedures and medically standard diagnostic and treatment protocols. “Freedom - Passion - Joy” is the core value that the Interventional Cardiology Department holds dear and strives for each day to fulfill its mission of saving many patients.
With a passion for cardiology and the joy of seeing hearts beat healthily after each treatment, the “white‑coat angels” team in the department seems to forget all fatigue to continue their meaningful work.
Strength
Through many years of formation and development, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City has been affirming its position as a leading hospital with many cutting‑edge specialties under increasing development pressure and specialization. Cardiology consists of three major fields: internal cardiology, interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery.
Each field plays its own role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. These three pieces interconnect to form a closed loop aiming to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of patients with heart conditions. Interventional cardiology was established and developed after internal cardiology and cardiac surgery but has progressed rapidly. It has moved from merely supporting diagnosis and being an adjunctive treatment alongside medical therapy and surgery.
Today, interventional cardiology is an indispensable field in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, providing an alternative to surgical and medical therapy for patients with these conditions. Evidence of this development is seen in the increasing number of inpatient treatments and the rapidly rising number of specialized interventional procedures.
Currently, in terms of the number of cardiac interventions and the diversity of interventional procedures, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, HCMC is one of the leading large centers nationwide. The Interventional Cardiology Department has achieved rapid and sustainable development with the following strengths:
Excellent center for intravascular ultrasound and plaque cutting.
Excellent center for fractional flow reserve measurement.
International training center for intravascular ultrasound and hard plaque cutting (ROVUS).
National and international interventional cardiology training center.
Independent center for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
Training center for interventions on the common trunk and branch vessels.
Training & Research
The Interventional Cardiology Department has accepted and trained university and postgraduate students: medical students, resident doctors, CKI doctors, CKII doctors, master’s students of the Internal Medicine Department, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time, it trains trainees and transfers technical technology to hospitals in the region. In addition, the department regularly shares experience, professional activities, organizes periodic advanced skill classes for continuous staff training. Every year, the department plans to elevate the professional level of researchers, masters, CKII doctors for its personnel.
Organizes training and continuous education on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases using intravascular interventional methods and in‑depth pathologies of coronary artery disease, short‑term and long‑term valvular disease for specialty‑oriented physicians, post‑graduate doctors, students, trainees, nurses, technicians (in collaboration with the Internal Cardiology Department and the Cardiac Surgery Department). Organizes training and certification for the “Basic Interventional Cardiology” course, 12‑month duration; the “Advanced Interventional Cardiology” course, 12‑month duration; and the “Intravascular Ultrasound” course, 1‑month duration, three classes per year (in collaboration with the Human Resources Training Center according to societal needs).
The Interventional Cardiology Department has conducted scientific research and applied the results to diagnosis, treatment, training, and technology transfer to satellite hospitals. It also participates in writing articles, communication materials, training manuals, and teaching documents.
Along with that, the department continues to cooperate and exchange experiences with healthcare facilities both domestically and abroad. It strengthens friendly and long‑term cooperation with universities and hospitals in countries with advanced medical fields such as South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and continuously seeks new partners (USA, UK, Germany,...).
Equipments
The department spans a system of three outpatient clinics, an electrocardiography room, a stress testing laboratory, a cardiac ultrasound room, stress cardiac ultrasound, esophageal cardiac ultrasound, a cardiac CT scanning room (64–128 slices), a cardiac MRI room, a digital subtraction angiography room, and a spacious inpatient ward equipped with modern beds, full amenities, private and comfortable spaces for patients and their relatives. Along with this is an emergency vehicle system available 24/7, fully equipped with medicines, supplies, a shock box and the most modern equipment to provide patient care according to international medical standards.
Staff
The executive management team of the Interventional Cardiology Department consists of PhDs, Masters, lecturers at the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, specialist doctors, resident doctors, nursing graduates, specialized nurses with many years of experience, solid expertise, understanding of service mindset and patient care skills.