Rivera Medical Center, Inc. (RMCI) marks another milestone in cardiovascular care by successfully performing the first documented coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) procedure in Mindanao.
The hospital extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Dan Brian Galang and the dedicated RMCI Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (CathLab) Team for achieving this landmark accomplishment, bringing one of the world’s most advanced treatments for severely calcified coronary artery disease closer to patients in the region.
Coronary artery disease occurs when the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. In some patients, these arteries become heavily hardened by calcium deposits, making them difficult to treat using conventional balloon angioplasty and stent placement alone. Severe calcification can prevent the artery from expanding properly, increasing the complexity of the procedure and making successful stent implantation more challenging.
What is Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL)?
Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) is an advanced treatment specifically designed to address this problem. Inspired by the same technology used to break up kidney stones, IVL uses acoustic pressure waves to fracture hardened calcium within the artery wall. Rather than removing the calcium, the technology creates controlled microscopic fractures that make the artery more flexible and easier to expand. Once the calcium has been modified, the artery can be prepared more safely for balloon expansion and stent placement, improving the likelihood of a successful procedure.
The procedure is performed using minimally invasive catheter-based techniques. It begins with a small puncture in an artery, usually in the wrist or the groin. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is then carefully guided through the blood vessels toward the blocked coronary artery using live X-ray imaging. This allows the cardiologist to reach the affected area without the need for open-heart surgery or a large surgical incision.
Once the IVL balloon reaches the narrowed segment of the artery, it is positioned precisely within the calcified blockage. The balloon is then inflated at low pressure while delivering short bursts of acoustic pressure waves. These sound waves selectively fracture the hardened calcium embedded within the artery wall while minimizing injury to the surrounding soft tissue. By modifying the calcium in this controlled manner, the artery can expand more uniformly, allowing the cardiologist to place a coronary stent more safely and effectively.
The successful introduction of coronary IVL at RMCI represents a significant advancement in heart care for Mindanao. Until now, patients requiring this specialized treatment often had to travel outside the region to seek advanced care, adding financial, emotional, and logistical burdens during an already stressful time. With IVL now available at Rivera Medical Center, patients with complex calcified coronary artery disease can receive this state-of-the-art treatment much closer to home, allowing families to remain near their loved ones while accessing advanced cardiac care.
This milestone reflects RMCI’s continuing commitment to bringing modern medical technologies to the communities it serves. The hospital’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (CathLab) combines advanced imaging equipment, specialized cardiovascular technology, and a highly trained multidisciplinary team capable of performing complex coronary interventions. From diagnostic coronary angiography to advanced procedures such as coronary IVL, the CathLab is equipped to provide comprehensive, patient-centered cardiovascular care using internationally accepted standards and techniques.
Congratulations to our CathLab Team
Behind every successful procedure is the close collaboration of interventional cardiologists, nurses, radiologic technologists, cardiovascular technicians, and other healthcare professionals who work together to ensure every patient receives safe, efficient, and compassionate treatment. Their expertise, precision, and teamwork were instrumental in making this historic procedure possible.
Rivera Medical Center congratulates Dr. Dan Brian Galang and the entire RMCI CathLab Team on this remarkable achievement. As the first documented successful coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) procedure in Mindanao, this milestone demonstrates RMCI’s dedication to innovation, clinical excellence, and improving access to advanced cardiovascular care for patients throughout the region. By making IVL available locally, the hospital continues to bring world-class heart care closer to the people who need it most, offering new hope for patients living with severely calcified coronary artery disease.
We are grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. Above all, we give all the glory to God, whose faithfulness continues to guide our work and our mission to serve.
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.”
Psalm 115:1
For consultations or to schedule an appointment with one of our cardiologists, call 0925 707 6172.
