The Medical City South Luzon Performs Its First Orbital Atherectomy, Advancing Complex Cardiac Care in the Region | The Medical City

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The Medical City South Luzon Performs Its First Orbital Atherectomy, Advancing Complex Cardiac Care in the Region

By The Medical City (TMC), Ortigas | March 25, 2026

The Medical City South Luzon Performs Its First Orbital Atherectomy, Advancing Complex Cardiac Care in the Region

The Medical City South Luzon successfully performs its first Orbital Atherectomy, marking a significant advancement in the management of complex coronary artery disease in the region. The procedure, done on an 87-year-old patient with severe calcification, highlights TMCSL’s growing capability to deliver specialized cardiac care closer to home.

Laguna, Philippines — The Medical City South Luzon (TMCSL) has successfully performed its first Orbital Atherectomy, a cutting-edge cardiac procedure designed to treat severely calcified coronary arteries. The milestone marks a significant step in TMCSL’s commitment to bringing advanced cardiovascular care closer to patients across South Luzon, care that was once accessible only in major Metro Manila hospitals.

The landmark case involved an 87-year-old woman who was referred to TMCSL from another hospital after being diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Coronary angiogram, confirmed by intravascular imaging (IVUS), revealed three-vessel coronary artery disease with severely calcified lesions, particularly in the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery, the vessel responsible for approximately 70% of the heart muscle’s blood supply.

While Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) is the established standard of care for three-vessel disease, the patient’s family declined open-heart surgery given her advanced age. The medical team recommended Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) with Orbital Atherectomy, technology available at TMCSL, and the patient was transferred specifically to access this advanced treatment.

Successful Procedure and Excellent Patient Outcome

The procedure was performed by Dr. James Diaz, Interventional Cardiologist, with the assistance of Dr. Jeffrey Chua, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, and was completed without complications. Post-intervention imaging showed a significant improvement in blood flow through the LAD, enabling effective stent placement.

The patient recovered swiftly and was cleared for discharge just two days after the procedure, reporting no recurring symptoms and returning to normal daily activities.

“I barely felt anything during recovery. After two days, I could walk to the bathroom on my own. I feel completely normal now.”

— 87-year-old patient, Orbital Atherectomy recipient

A Milestone for Cardiac Care in South Luzon

Orbital Atherectomy works by using a rotating device to sand down and debulk calcium deposits within coronary arteries, allowing the vessel wall to become more compliant. This enables safer balloon dilation and stent placement. These are results that are difficult or impossible to achieve in heavily calcified lesions through conventional PCI alone.

With this successful first case, patients in Laguna and surrounding provinces now have local access to a level of complex cardiac care previously requiring referral to Metro Manila. TMCSL’s expanding capabilities, in both advanced technology and experienced specialist teams, reflect its growing role as a regional center for complex interventional procedures.

“Having Orbital Atherectomy available greatly enhances our management of complex coronary lesions. This technology improves outcomes and allows us to treat more patients safely right here in South Luzon.”

— Dr. James Diaz, Interventional Cardiologist, The Medical City South Luzon


About The Medical City South Luzon

The Medical City South Luzon is a tertiary hospital committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care backed by world-class medical expertise and state-of-the-art technology, bringing specialist services closer to communities across Laguna and South Luzon.

It is part of The Medical City (TMC), the largest healthcare network in the Philippines operating under a single brand. TMC is Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited, reflecting its commitment to the highest global standards in patient safety and quality of care.

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