Today, across the globe cardiovascular diseases are on the rise, and in this day & age Angioplasty is one of the most promising procedures to restore the heart’s health.
Angioplasty is an effective, minimally-invasive procedure used to treat severe heart issues, where the heart disease has reached a point where the medication alone cannot help. In the angioplasty procedure a small balloon is inserted inside the narrowed or blocked artery, caused by the plaque build-up, to open it and restore the normal blood flow to the heart.
Risk factors including smoking, sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol adversely affect the heart health, adding to the plaque build-up. When the arteries become blocked, chest pain quickly escalates to a heart attack, if the patient does not receive immediate medical attention.
Courtesy to the medical advancements, Angioplasty is no longer a standard, one-size-fits-all procedure. Depending on the patient’s heart condition, age, location of the blood clot, the extent of the heart muscle’s damage, and the patient’s medical history, there are different Angioplasty procedures that the cardiologists can choose from.
Types of Angioplasty:
1 Balloon Angioplasty:
The foundation of all different Angioplasty procedures, Balloon Angioplasty is the first step of them all. In Balloon Angioplasty, a small balloon is inserted inside the artery and with the help of a catheter is guided to the narrowed or blocked spot, before it is gently inflated to open up the artery by removing the plaque and restoring the normal blood flow.
2 Stent Placement:
During the Angioplasty procedure, sometimes it is necessary to place a stent at the narrowed or blocked spot in the artery. A stent is a small mesh-like tube that acts as a scaffold to keep the artery open and prevent it from re-narrowing (medically called restenosis).
The three commonly used type of stents for Angioplasty in India are:
Bare-Metal Stents:
Made of metal alloys, these traditional stents do not have any special medicated coating. They’re effective in keeping the artery open, but over time may trigger a healing response and stimulate the growth of scar tissue that in turn causes the artery to narrow (restenosis) again.
Drug-Eluting Stents:
Today, they make for the most frequently used stents during Angioplasty procedures. Coated with medication that is slowly released over time, these stents do not trigger healing response, help keep the artery open and improve the long-term outcomes. All of which makes Drug-Eluting stents a superior choice for patients who are prone to restenosis.
Bio-Absorbable Polymer Stents:
As the name suggests, these stents are designed to gradually dissolve and be absorbed by the body over time, leaving no permanent metal scaffolding in the artery. They allow the artery to heal naturally, the reason why they are considered as the new types of promising cardiac stents.
While all of the stents have their advantages and shortcomings, stenting is not always the preferred option for all heart patients to restore the blood flow to the heart. In certain scenarios, if the patients received proper and immediate medical attention, Balloon Angioplasty alone can restore the blood flow. Understanding Angioplasty and all its aspects is the best way to answer the doubt that the heart fills itself with.
Balloon Angioplasty vs Stent: What Does the Heart Want
The discussion around Balloon Angioplasty vs Stent is very common amongst the patients and their respective families. Balloon angioplasty removes the plaque by opening the narrowed or blocked artery, however in case the cardiologist’s assessment suggests that the restenosis is a possibility in future, a stent is required, a solid answer for restenosis.
Balloon Angioplasty vs stent is not for the patient to choose from — a cardiologist evaluates the artery size, the narrowed or blocked spot, the long-term risk factors and then decides on their preferred approach. In more than most cases, both procedures are used together. In select scenarios, Balloon Angioplasty procedure alone may be sufficient.
Balloon Angioplasty Without Stent: The Metal-Free Alternative
In recent times, with the advancement in drug-coated balloon technology, the minimally-invasive Balloon Angioplasty without the stent placement has gained significant attention. These drug-coated balloons deliver medication directly onto the artery wall and are then removed, leaving no permanent metal implant behind.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Angioplasty Approach
Today, Angioplasty offers multiple safe and effective procedural options, modified in accordance with the individual patient’s needs. From choosing the right type of stent for Angioplasty, to considering Balloon Angioplasty with or without the stent, the cardiologist’s goal remains the same — restoring healthy blood flow to the heart.
With strict medication compliance, proper medical guidance, and heart-healthy lifestyle changes after the procedure, Angioplasty can be a powerful step toward a longer, healthier life. The right choice is always the one that is guided by evidence, but is made with compassion.