Stent Surgery In India – By Internationally Experienced Surgeons India
Added: (Fri Oct 30 2009)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Endovascular stent surgery In India
Endovascular stent surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses advanced technology and instrumentation to treat such disorders of the circulatory system as blockage or damage to blood vessels caused by the build up of plaque (fatty deposits, calcium deposits, and scar tissue) in the arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)...
Demographics
Candidates for endovascular stent surgery are patients with atheroslerosis who are at high risk for heart attack and stroke. Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States for both men and women. People at greatest risk have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and sometimes diabetes...
Description
* The conditions most often treated by endovascular stent surgery are: coronary artery disease; narrowing (stenosis) of the carotid artery in the neck, a risk factor for stroke; and aortic aneurysm...
* An aortic aneurysm, which is a life-threatening bulging of the aorta, can occur anywhere along this major artery, either in the abdomen (abdominal aortic aneurysm or AAA) or in the chest area (thoracic aneurysm). When the aorta is blocked by significant amounts of plaque, pressure may cause it to bulge like a balloon directly above or below the blockage, causing a weakening of the vessel wall...
* The goal of all these procedures is to improve the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body, reduce symptoms, and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. ...
* Endovascular stent surgery was introduced in the 1980s to treat occlusive (blocking) coronary artery disease, without using open surgery. More recently, endovascular stent grafting, a variation of the procedure, is also being used to repair life-threatening aortic aneurysms, which formerly could be treated only with open surgery. Because the incision for..
* Endovascular stent surgery is performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory equipped with a fluoroscope, a special x-ray machine and an x-ray monitor that looks like a regular television screen...
* Diagnosis/Preparation
Often the first test done to diagnose coronary artery disease is an electrocardiogram, to show the heart's rhythm. A stress test, or exercise electrocardiogram, may be performed as well, though this test can be too strenuous for some patients. Cardiac catheterization is considered the most definitive test...
Aftercare
After stent surgery, the patient will spend several hours in the recovery room to be monitored for vital signs (temperature, heart rate, and breathing) and heart sounds. Pressure will be applied to the catheter insertion site in the groin to prevent bleeding; a weight may be applied to the leg to restrict movement...
Risks
The greatest risk with stent implantation is the formation of clots within the stent. Aspirin and oral anti-clotting medications are usually given after stent placement to minimize this risk, which has been reported to occur in about 1–1.5% of patients undergoing endovascular stent surgeries...
Normal results
People undergoing endovascular stent surgeries usually recover within a week or so, compared to months of recovery from conventional open surgery...
Morbidity/Mortality
Deaths have not been reported either during or immediately following endovascular stent surgeries that are linked to the surgical procedure. Stent procedures have been shown to increase survival (by reducing restenosis) among people with coronary artery disease. ..
Alternatives
Stent implantation helps to clear blocked arteries and keep them open mechanically. There are no mechanical alternatives however, to reduce plaque formation. Nutritional supplements and alternative therapies that have been recommended to help reduce risks and promote good vascular health include:
* Vitamins B6 and B12 help to lower homocysteine, an amino acid that is believed to contribute to atherosclerosis. B6 is also a mild diuretic and helps to balance fluids in the body.
* Folic acid helps lower homocysteine levels and increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells.
* Antioxidant vitamins C and E work together to promote healthy blood vessels and improve circulation.
* Angelica, an herb that contains coumadin, a recognized anticoagulant, may help to prevent the formation of blood clots.....