Coronary Artery Disease or CAD is one of the major killers in India. In recent times
CAD is effecting the youth as well. Busy lifestyles, stress, habits like oking,alcohol, and fatty foods are leading to CAD in youth.
Heart Attacks (Myocardial infraction) are a manifestation of CAD’s. Blockage or
narrowing of coronary arteries leads to CAD’s. The arteries supply blood to theheart; blockages caused in arteries like cholesterol, narrowing, atherosclerosis
restrict blood flow to the heart. The heart starves for oxygen and nutrient rich
blood causing an infraction or heart attack.
Ischemia is a condition where the heart muscle gets cramped due to lack of blood.
Acute coronary syndrome is 3 types
a) Angina- Poor blood supply to the heart for a small period is called angina. It can last over a period of time and can be treated with oral medications. Patient having known CAD carry their oral medications all the time.
b) Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI): In such infractions the ECG does not record any changes. In such scenarios chemical markers are used to diagnose it
c) ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI): Blockage in the supply of blood for a long period affect the heart muscle to a large extent. ECG and chemical markers show immediate changes.
Symptoms
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Palpitations
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Pain from the chest to the arms Diagnosis
• ECG
• EKG
• Stress Test
• Chest X Ray
• Ultra sound
• Blood Investigations
Advanced diagnostics involves Catheterization and Angiogram
Treatment
Lifestyle Modifications: Patients diagnosed in initial stages of CHD are recommended
to make life style modifications like quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, exercise,
food modifications, monitoring blood pressure and diabetes and medications are prescribed
by your cardiologist accordingly Interventional Procedures: Interventional procedures are mostly used to open up blockages in the arteries.
There are 3 types of interventional procedures
1. PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty) or Balloon Angioplasty:: This procedure
involves placing of a small balloon at the tip of the catheter and inserting it in to the blocked artery.
Once the balloon reached the blocked are it is inflated leading to dilation of the area.
2. Stent: A stent is a small metal tube that is inserted in to the blocked artery through the balloon.
The metal tube restricts the blockage.
3. Rotablation (Percutaneous Transluminal Rotational Atherectomy or PTRA): A diamond tip catheter
is inserted in to the blocked artery. It is then rotated at high speed to clear the blockage.
There are many advanced stents used in the treatment procedures at the Heart Institute.
Write to our experts on touchinglives@apollohospitals.com to find out more about the options available.
Surgical Procedures:
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery
CABG surgery involves bypassing the blocked coronary arteries with a blood vessel graft.
These grafts are usually taken from patient’s own arteries and veins located in the chest
(thoracic), leg (saphenous) or arm (radial). The graft goes around the blocked artery
(or arteries) to create new pathways for oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart.
On Pump (Heart Lung Machine) heart surgery
Traditional CABG is performed on still heart i.e the circulatory system is entirely taken over
by the heart lung machine that performs the functions of the heart and lungs during the surgery
and the surgery is performed on the heart.
Off-pump or beating heart surgery
A highly advanced procedure in which the heart is kept in a controlled environment
using advanced operating equipment and the surgery is performed while the heart
is beating. The aim of off pump is to minimize the risk of other complications
like renal failure , stroke and reduce the need of blood transfusion.
The decision to go for an off pump or on pump surgery completely lies with your surgeon.
It is only decided on the operation table once they evaluate your circulatory system more
closely. Both on pump and off pump heart surgeries have had similar results at the heart
institute at Apollo Health City.
After Surgery
The patient after surgery is moved in the intensive care unit where he/she is
thoroughly monitored. The surgeon decides when you are fit to leave the ICU
and move to step down. In step down along with monitoring and medication the
patient is put through a rehab program.
Kindly write to us on touchinglives@apollohospitals.com to know more about the surgery, various surgical packages available along with
boarding and lodging facilities
