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UHI offers daily outpatient services on week days from 8.00 am to 5.00pm and 24 hour emergency care. It has an in-patient ward with an attached intensive care unit and operating theatre. The institute has highly trained staff, comprising cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, Anaesthesiologists, a perfusionist, cardiac and general nurses.
Cardiology
Using state-of the–art equipment, the institute offers a range of cardiology services including electrocardiography (ECG), vascular Doppler, transthoracic and transoesophageal (TEE) echocardiography. Other services include permanent pacemaker implantation and pacemaker programming, Holter monitoring and stress ECG tests and treadmill.
Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.
A wide range of surgical services is offered including closed heart procedures, vascular surgery, thoracic operations, a vast range of surgical oncology procedures and cardiorespiratory rehabilitation. In October 2007 the institute resumed open-heart surgery after 30 years of turmoil and subsequent revitalization of the National Health Service delivery.
Intensive Care Services.
The Institute operates an intensive care unit (ICU) where critically ill cardiac patients and those who have undergone major cardiovascular and thoracic surgery are admitted. Using state-of the–art monitoring and life support equipment the ICU has greatly helped improve the life of many cardiac patients whose prognosis would otherwise have been poor.
Laboratory Services.
The Institute runs a small laboratory besides the main central Laboratories at Mulago National Hospital. Using trained technologists, Clinical chemistry and hematological investigations can readily be performed in the laboratory.
Nuclear Medicine.
In collaboration with the Department of Nuclear Medicine Mulago Hospital the Institute performs Technician 99 myocardial perfusion studies.
Continuing Professional Development
UHI offers opportunity for basic training in electrocardiography, echocardiography and cardiothoracic surgery to medical students, intern doctors, postgraduate students, paramedics and nurses pursuing specialization in cardiovascular nursing.
RESEARCH.
On going studies at UHI: -
The Sub-Sahara Africa Survey of Heart Failure (THESUS HF) is an international multicentre prospective observational study on acute heart failure. This study is being coordinated by researchers at the Duke University, USA, and is designed to aid in the development of a heart Failure registry in Africa. UHI is delighted to be part of this undertaking. So far four African countries are taking part in the study including South Africa, Mozambique, Cameroon, and Uganda.
- Importance of Conventional and Emerging risk factors for Stroke in different regions of the world and in different ethnic groups (INTERSTROKE). This international multicentres study being coordinated by the Population Health Research Institute Mc Master University, Canada. More than ten countries are so far participating.
COLLABORATIONS.
The Institute acknowledges the assistance rendered by The Children’s’ National Medical Centre, Washington, The Madras Medical Mission (Institute of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Diseases), and the International Centre for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Diseases (Frontier Lifeline - India) with whom collaboration exists and together are working towards the introduction of interventional cardiology at Mulago Hospital. With these services established, Uganda and the other countries in the Great Lakes region should be able to receive improved and more advanced cardiovascular services and to save revenue through reduced expenditure on treatment abroad. In addition, more patients within the region will be able to access these otherwise very expensive yet life saving services.
Having developed during the time of turmoil in Uganda the institute has indeed come a long way and still calls upon well-wishers for collaboration in patient care and research aimed at improving cardiovascular services in the Great Lakes region.
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