NAGPUR: In latest advancement, doctors at Arneja Heart Institute in city treated two cases of heart blockages using coronary shockwave lithotripsy this week. This technology is a new ray of hope for those suffering from an advanced form of coronary artery disease (CAD) and having heart attack in which the blockage becomes very hard due to deposit of calcium.
This minimally invasive approach has been in use for treating kidney stones that are also made up of calcium.
Such problem occurs in patients undergoing angioplasty and stenting, especially those who are old, diabetic, have chronic kidney disease, have long standing blockages or who have undergone previous bypass surgery.
Calcium slowly progresses to its hardened, bone-like state and develops plaque within the heart arteries. This structure restricts normal artery movement and makes arterial tissue resistant to traditional balloon therapies.
“Both patients had 90% blocked artery which could not be opened by the standard technique of balloon angioplasty. These calcified blocks are like hard rock. Even if we put stents there, stents do not open up well causing very high chance of re-blockages,” said Dr Jaspal Arneja of the Institute.
A shockwave balloon was inserted inside the artery and sonic pulses were delivered to break the calcium in the blockage. After that, the blockage opened easily and stent implantation became successful and sustainable.
“We are happy to have been equipped and ready to offer this technology to the benefit of numerous patients in Central India undergoing angioplasties,” he added.
Dr Amar Amale, interventional cardiologist termed it a path-breaking therapy. “This will bring hope for many patients whose arteries could not be opened by balloon angioplasty because of calcium build-up. Such patients had to undergo bypass surgeries or rely on medical management,” he said.
Cardiologists in city said the process was a boon for many. “Hardened calcified blockages are big challenge. They can now be opened with ease and safety with this technology,” said Dr Virag Mahorkar.
Senior cardiac surgeon Dr Prashant Jagtap said that new shockwave coronary lithotripsy was a major advancement. “It is getting popular across the world due to its efficiency and safety. Its further adoption will make it affordable too. It’s a boon as it can avoid invasive bypass surgery,” he said.
The process:
* Intravascular lithotripsy generates sonic pressure waves within heart arteries
* This breaks-up problematic calcium deposited blockages
* Blocked artery can then be opened with ease and safety
* Blood flow restores with placement of a stent
* Similar approach is used to treat kidney stones, which are also made up of calcium
* First such process in India was performed in New Delhi in January 2020