Post Heart Attack Angioplasty

Also commonly known as balloon angioplasty this process is an endovascular procedure which is used to widen up the blocked or narrowed arteries of the heart and veins. A coronary angioplasty is performed with the help of a balloon-tipped catheter. This catheter is inserted in the wrist or the groin in order to enlarge the narrowing coronary artery.

In some other cases, the catheter contains a stainless steel mesh known as a stent, which is used to keep the blood vessel in an open position and has the ability to remain in that place even after the balloon has been deflated and removed.

Usually performed immediately after a heart attack, preferably within twenty-four hours, getting the procedure done at the right time considerably reduces your risk of having a successive heart attack.

It is important to understand the reason why cardiac arrests occur. The coronary artery gets blocked due to the plaque that gets left behind in the walls of the arteries of the heart. The blockage occurs because of large amounts of cholesterol intake, lack of physical exercise and unhealthy lifestyle choices such as excessive drinking or smoking.

Since heart failures and heart attacks are grave medical emergency, immediate action is the key to minimize the extent and amount of damage caused. Depending on the type of facilities available in the hospital, a procedure like this can cost anywhere between one to three lakhs in India.

Admittedly, it is a little heavy on the pocket, but it is highly recommended and very favorable in the long run to consult an experienced doctor as your muscles would be less likely to suffer any sort of damage if your doctor is able to restore the blood supply quickly.

There are benefits as well as risks involved with post heart attack angioplasty. A careful understanding of both will allow you to choose wisely and minimize the implicated risks.

Benefits:

Research suggests that a post heart attack angioplasty drastically reduces the risks of further heart attacks thus having the potential to save lives. It is possibly the most efficient method of getting the blood flowing quickly towards the heart. It is also very helpful in relieving chest pains caused by blockages and decreasing other related symptoms. In comparison to an open heart surgery, this procedure is definitely less complicated, requires lesser post-operation care, and allows its patients to recover more quickly.

Risks:

Every medical procedure comes with a certain amount of risk attached to it. This invasive procedure may cause you to react against the anesthetic or the dye being used. Other materials used in the process can also cause a side effect. Other types of risks that are hugely associated with the procedure are:

Clotting, bleeding or bruising at the point where the insertion is made.

People suffering from existing kidney problems may experience further kidney damages.

Damages may occur to the blood vessel, artery or the heart valve.

Although this procedure is associated with the risk of heart attack, the possibility is very low.

The important thing to remember is that an emergency procedure is not the complete cure for blocked arteries. In several cases, where a stent isn’t used, the coronary artery can become narrow again, known as restenosis.

Avoid opting for a seemingly pocket-friendly procedure, and go for the complete solution that’ll give you longer lasting results.

Life after Angioplasty:

One of the main reasons for heart failures or cardiac arrests is an unhealthy lifestyle. An improvement in diet and an appropriate amount of exercising guarantees a healthier lifestyle and a decreased chance of your coronary arteries being blocked. Consult your doctor before going in for exercises like cycling, jogging, and swimming as it substantially increases your heart rate. Alternatively, a cardiac rehabilitation program might be the best way to go. A complete and healthy change in your lifestyle (diet, food, and exercise) is the most recommended course of action to avoid any further complications.

Fortis Heart Failure Centre in Chennai performs Angioplasty for the cost of one and a half lakh rupees (1,50,000) along with a private ward and excluding the stent. Whereas, in Sarvana Heart Hospital Chennai, the procedure in a private ward can cost around one lakh and twenty thousand rupees (1,20,000). Rates and costs, of course, vary from ward to ward and hospital to hospital, but a general inference can be drawn from the above illustrations.