The Hindu Business Line : Angioplasty done thru patient's arm

THE way to a man's heart may well be through his stomach - and to an impaired heart, through an incision in the groin, as angioplasty practitioners would vouch.

But doctors at SUT Super Speciality Hospitals here have proved otherwise. They have successfully managed to carry out a rare angioplasty in which the arteries were accessed through the arm, and not the groin.

A hospital spokesman said angioplasty is usually carried out by dilating the blockages and directing a catheter (a thin tube)-led balloon through an artery, accessed from the groin. Earlier, even bypass surgeries were carried out on patients to eliminate blockages in their coronary arteries. However, recovery was usually longer and may be more painful. The patient had to remain in bed for six to seven days.

Angioplasty evolved only later. Through this method, blockages are removed.It reduces, to an extent, the difficulties and discomforts of invasive surgical procedure. The patient could hope to return to work in just three days.

But, angioplasty performed through the groin is not without its share of discomforts. The patient has to stay still in the bed for one day, lest he developed bleeding from the artery. This causes severe difficulties such as back pain and disrupts routine activities such as urination.

But, with advancement in techniques, the patient can now sit back in relief and is assured of a fast and trouble-free recovery. This is exactly what angioplasty performed through radial artery of the arm promises.

Often, a stent, coated with medication, is implanted to keep the artery open, which will offer long-term relief to patients. This is as effective as a bypass surgery.

Angioplasty through the arm is relatively uncomplicated to perform, is less painful and usually requires less hospital confinement.

However, it is advised that only experienced physicians perform this as it is technically more demanding. The practice, however, is now popular in foreign countries and in the metro cities in India.

This rare procedure was carried out on a 60-year-old man at the SUT Hospitals on April 12 by Dr Bharath Chandran, renowned cardiologist and Managing Director, accompanied by Dr Deepak Davidson. The patient was able to walk to his bed after the angioplasty, the spokesman said.

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