South Chennai Gets First Laser Angioplasty Facility for Complex Heart Blockages at Prashanth Hospitals
Chennai: Prashanth Hospitals has introduced Excimer Laser Coronary Atherectomy (ELCA) at its Velachery unit, becoming the first hospital in South Chennai and the second in Chennai to offer the advanced laser angioplasty technology for treating complex coronary artery disease.
The facility was inaugurated by K. S. Ravikumar, Director, in the presence of Dr. Aravind Duruvasal, Senior Consultant – Interventional Cardiologist, and Dr. Prashanth Krishna, Director, Prashanth Group of Hospitals.
ELCA is designed to treat challenging coronary blockages that may not respond effectively to conventional angioplasty. The technology uses a specialised ultraviolet laser to vaporise plaque and blood clots with precision, providing an additional treatment option for patients with chronic total occlusions, clot-heavy heart attacks, uncrossable lesions, and failed or under-expanded stents.
The procedure is performed through a small puncture in the wrist or groin, making it minimally invasive. According to the hospital, many patients are able to walk within 24 hours after the procedure, and in selected cases, ELCA may provide an alternative to bypass surgery.
The introduction of ELCA expands the hospital’s interventional cardiology capabilities alongside existing technologies such as Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) and Rotational Atherectomy. Together, these technologies allow cardiologists to choose treatment approaches based on the nature and complexity of individual coronary blockages.
Dr. Prashanth Krishna, Director of Prashanth Group of Hospitals, said the addition of ELCA reflects the hospital’s efforts to improve access to advanced cardiac treatment in South Chennai. He noted that as coronary artery disease becomes increasingly complex, hospitals need to combine advanced technology with clinical expertise to improve patient outcomes while providing minimally invasive treatment options.
Dr. Aravind Duruvasal, Senior Consultant – Interventional Cardiologist, said conventional angioplasty remains effective for most patients, but certain complex coronary lesions require specialised technologies. He stated that ELCA enables cardiologists to treat difficult blockages with greater precision, restore blood flow safely, and, in carefully selected patients, reduce the need for more invasive procedures. He added that making the technology available in South Chennai can improve timely access to advanced cardiac care, particularly during emergencies.
Speaking at the launch, Director K. S. Ravikumar said wider access to advanced medical technology is important as heart disease continues to be a major health concern. He said the introduction of ELCA in South Chennai would make advanced cardiac treatment more accessible for patients in the region.
Prashanth Hospitals stated that its interventional cardiology programme now includes ELCA, IVL, Rotational Atherectomy, advanced catheterisation laboratories, and round-the-clock emergency cardiac services supported by a multidisciplinary heart team.
The hospital also announced plans to expand ELCA technology to its other Chennai units in the future, aiming to improve access to advanced cardiac care across the city.
