The faster and safer route to your heart
Coronary Angiogram: The test to identify blocks in coronaries.
The Gold Standard
There are many ways to identify blocks in the coronary arteries but invasive coronary angiography is currently the gold standard.
Recently CT coronary angiography has come in vogue with the convenience of obviating the injection of the dye directly to the artery simplifying the procedure. But this technique is still a screening tool. If blockages are identified in CT angiography, again invasive coronary angiogram is required for accurately delineating the location and severity of blocks and to plan the treatment. Moreover in certain situations like heavy calcifications on the artery, CT angiogram cannot identify the blocks.
The Procedure
Coronary Angiography involves passing a thin tube or catheter in the arteries and injecting a radiopaque dye directly to the coronary arteries thereby enabling one to visualize them and identify accurately the location, severity etc. of the blocks.Traditionally coronary angiograms were used to perform by puncturing the artery in the groin. But this necessitates the patient to be at bed rest at least six hours to prevent bleeding from the site of puncture.
The Radial Route
Angiograms in most instances can be easily and conveniently done through the wrist, puncturing the radial artery. This approach is extremely safe and simple procedure which obviates the need for bed rest. Patient can immediately walk after the procedure if he is otherwise well.
Advantage Badr Al Samaa
In Badr Al Samaa Heart Centre at Ruwi we adopt the Radial First approach. Around 5000 coronary procedures are performed till datesince its inception in 2014. Almost all procedures these days are successfully performed through the wrist without a single procedure related serious complications.
Primary Angioplasty – The Life Saving Procedure
Angioplasty used to re-open a coronary artery when someone is having a heart attack is called primary angioplasty. It is the most preferred treatment after a heart attack, but best results are achieved if it can be done very soon after the symptoms start. Basically, heart attack happens when the artery facilitating blood supply to the heart muscle is blocked and this causes death to a segment of heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Within 90 minutes of showing any symptom of Heart Attack the patient should reach the hospital and the artery should be opened.The patient on whom the primary angioplasty is performed can leave the hospital in the next two days.
Identify the symptoms
Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back, nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, cold sweat can be an indication of heart attack.
Primary Angioplasty is the best treatment option for Heart Attacks
“Time is Muscle” and primary angioplasty ensuresbetter results, says Dr. Benny Panakkal
