Evolution Of Invasive Cardiology
Conventional Surgery VS Minimally Invasive Surgery
Cardiology is the branch of medicine that deals with various diseases, ailments and disorders related to the heart and is further divided into two categories i.e. invasive cardiology and non-invasive cardiology. While the latter resorts to the use of medication, therapies and lifestyle modifications for treating a particular problem, the former offers surgical solutions to chronic cardiovascular problems. Invasive cardiology has evolved tremendously over the past few decades with the advent of new and better treatment options that have revolutionized the whole idea of treatment. The best heart hospitals in India offer all kinds of invasive cardiological treatments be it the traditional open-heart surgeries or catheter-based minimally invasive procedures.
Open heart surgery as the name suggests is carried out by making large incisions on the patient’s chest to directly access the heart. Sometimes the ribs of the patient may also be removes temporarily for better access. As per the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the survival rates, a year after undergoing open heart surgery, are as high as 97 per cent.
The recovery period following open-heart surgery is quite lengthy owing to the fact that it involves very large incisions. It may take weeks or rather months to return back to your normal routine. Healthy lifestyle modifications are very important for the success of the surgery. Apart from this, regular check-ups are also required to avoid infections and other complications.
Some common types of open-heart surgeries
· Heart transplant- It involves the replacement of the deceased and non-functional heart of a patient with a new heart taken from a healthy donor. The first heart transplant in India was performed in the year 1968. Although the transplant was not a success, it lighted a spark that finally flared up in the year 1994 with India first successful heart transplant. Around 350 heart transplants have been successfully conducted in India till date.
· Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) - Commonly known as heart bypass surgery, the procedure is performed on patients with blocked or narrowed arteries to facilitate healthy blood flow. Doctors make a large incision to directly access the affected artery and create a new path for the normal flow of blood. CABG can be performed on more than one artery at the same time.
· Septal myectomy- It is a type of open-heart surgery performedonpatients suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and involves the removal of a small portion of the septum that is responsible for obstructing the normal flow of the blood from the left ventricle to the aorta. The first successful procedure was performed in the 1960s.
Minimally invasive surgery
Minimally invasive surgeries, as the name suggests, involve minimal invasion and maximal precision. These are carried out via very small incisions or holes that heal without leaving behind any scar. The use of highly advanced equipment and techniques ensure minimal post-operative complications and faster recovery.
As far as minimally invasive surgeries are concerned, they are followed by a very short recovery period. The patient can go back to his normal lifestyle within a few days, however, certain precautions are to be taken to ensure there are no complications in future.
Some common types of minimally invasive surgeries
Balloon angioplasty-The procedure involves the use of a thin tube fixed with a balloon on one of its ends. Doctors hailing from the best hospital in Delhi treat severe arterial atherosclerosis, which is caused by plaque build-up, using this technique. Sometimes a stent may also be placed inside the affected artery for negating the risks of future blockage.
TAVR/TAVI- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation/Replacement is one of the most popular minimally invasive procedures performed on patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis. It involves the placement of a prosthetic valve with the help of a catheter, a small, narrow, flexible tube that is directed towards the affected valve with the help of live images generated by a tiny camera which is introduced inside the patient’s body along with the catheter.
Atherectomy- It is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that aims at removing atherosclerosis from the blood vessels by scraping the plaque from the walls of the artery. Atherectomy falls under the category of percutaneous revascularization.
If you are planning to undergo any of the above-mentioned treatments, make sure you consult the best invasive cardiology doctors in India for proper guidance.
