Angioplasty People diagnosed with a blockage in the coronary arteries may have heard the term angioplasty used often. This is a minimally invasive type of procedure that can help restore blood flow to the heart, and it can save your life. However, because there are multiple types of angioplasties, many patients find themselves asking the question, “What is the best type of angioplasty?” The simple answer to this question is that there is no single best type of angioplasty because the choice of procedures will be determined by your unique anatomy, as well as how severely the plaque that is causing your coronary artery blockage has hardened.
The gold standard for many patients would be to undergo a drug-eluting stent (DES) angioplasty. This angioplasty technique involves inserting a small balloon into the blockage in the artery and inflating the balloon to widen the opening of the artery. After this has been accomplished, a stainless steel mesh tube (stent) is placed inside the artery to hold it open. For the best treatment, you need to visit the best heart specialist in Patna.
Compared to current DES stents, which have a drug-coated surface, past bare-metal stents were not drug-eluting. The DES stent has the ability to deliver medication into the artery wall over time to inhibit the formation of scar tissue that can cause re-narrowing of the artery.
Advanced Techniques for Complex Blockages
Most of the time, standard stents will work for patients who have blockages; however, it is sometimes necessary to use additional advanced technologies in order to break through “heavily calcified” plaque or when there is an issue with the underlying structure of the area that needs to be treated. Some of these additional technologies include:
- Laser Angioplasty – The physician uses a catheter that produces very high-precision laser light energy to melt or vaporize the stubborn calcified or clot-like material without causing any injury to adjacent healthy tissue.
- Rotablator Atherectomy – If the plaque is too hard for a balloon to be inflated, physicians can use a small diamond-tipped drill spinning at high rates of speed to effectively grind away the calcification into microscopic particles small enough to pass harmlessly through the bloodstream.
- IVUS and OCT Imaging – For the best results in treatment, your physician needs to have a perfect view of what he is doing. That way, he can ensure that the stent has the right size and is placed where it is needed based on what the physician sees using Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), both of which add to a three-dimensional view of the area being treated, so that there are fewer errors made during treatments.
Angioplasty vs. Bypass Surgery (CABG)
Is angioplasty always a good option? Not necessarily.
In cases where the lumen is blocked (narrowed or occluded) by more than 60%, and the surrounding heart tissue is reasonably pliable, angioplasty is very successful. Conversely, if the patient has a complex chronic total occlusion with 100% blockage or severely blocked coronary arteries across all three major coronary arteries, the treating physician may recommend coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as a safe alternative. CABG is a developed cardiac surgery, but it can provide more robust, longer-term solutions for widespread, severe coronary artery disease.
Cost and Recovery Procedure
In India, an angioplasty procedure, that is with a high-quality coronary stent, often ranges from Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 400,000, which varies based on hospital tier, city, and number of stents used.
The discharge process is very rapid. Most patients are up and walking the next day and can resume light exercise within one week after surgery. However, the surgical procedure is just half of the treatment; the success of surgery depends on lifelong compliance with anticoagulants, a heart-healthy diet, and regular, medically supervised exercise.
Conclusion
The most important thing you can do for your heart health is to choose a hospital that has advanced cardiac catheterization laboratories and experienced interventional cardiologists. For the best treatment, you can choose the best angioplasty doctor in Patna.
FAQs
Q1: How much time does a drug-eluting stent last inside the person’s artery?
A1: Stents are permanent implants that are designed in order to stay in your artery forever. The medication dissolves within a few months, but the metal mesh structure stays to indefinitely keep the vessel open.
Q2: Is it possible for an artery to get blocked again after getting an angioplasty?
A2: Yes, it is possible for an artery to get blocked even after getting an angioplasty.