Nagpur: The need for performing certain cardiac procedures like bypass surgery and angioplasty is a much debated topic among doctors as well as patients. The good news is that some of the new-age drugs negate the need for such procedures. The next generation of these medicines are being developed with many more advantages that the cardiologists are excited about.
This was among the discussions during ‘Nagpur Live 2016′, a cardiology conference being organized jointly by Health Education and Research Trust, Nagpur, Arneja Heart And Multi Speciality Hospital in collaboration with Vidarbha Chapters of Cardiological Society of India (CSI) and Association of Physicians of India (API). Faculties of the conference include Dr Ramakant Panda from Mumbai’s Asian Heart Institute, Dr AB Mehta from Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital, Dr Ashok Seth of New Delhi’s Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and Dr Tan Huay Cheem from Singapore.
Explaining the physiology of heart attacks, Dr Mehta said, “Cholestrol deposits known as plaques cause blood vessels to narrow down. Being covered by thin capsules and rich in lipids, they are liable to rupture. This can cause a clot that completely blocks the vessel. Such blockages are often the first indication of heart trouble for several patients.” Regular screening of people vulnerable to heart ailments and treating them aggressively with stents, especially among people who are vulnerable having been exposed to more than two risk factors can help avoid unnecessary surgeries, he said.
“There is, in fact, an older technology called fractional flow reserve (FFR) that helps arrive at a numeric value of the internal pressure in the blood vessels. This measurement of the pressure can help us decide whether there is a need for a surgery or medicines will be enough to treat a patient,” informed city-based cardiologist Dr Jaspal Arneja. He added that 80% of the blockages in cardiac vessels can be managed without surgeries, with 15% requiring bypass and only 5% requiring angioplasty.
Dr Cheem who is the president of Asia-Pacific Society of Interventional Cardiology was very upbeat about the next generation of cardiac medicines. “We are currently using first generation medicated stents, or mesh tubes, that can be absorbed in the bloodstream in a couple of years’ time. There are several contra-indications or conditions under which these stents should not be used. The second generation of stents that are being developed will be available for use in a year or so. These will help overcome some of the prevalent issues of using these meshes,” he said.
The improvements being talked about include thinner covers or struts that is likely to reduce the time of absorption of the stent, added Dr Cheem. “The stents become vestigious after a couple of months of being put in the body. Therefore, their absorption at a time earlier than a couple of years is desirable considering they are made of metals. Also, the number of contra-indications of these new-age stents will be lesser,” he said.
Modelled on India live, the biggest academic fest for cardiologists in the country, the first Nagpur live conference was attended by more than 700 doctors from across the country. There were 45 faculties who will deliver 100 lectures over the two day event.
The uniqueness of the event was live surgeries performed at Arneja Hospital being beemed to the delegates. The guest faculties and delegates could interact with those performing the surgeries, asking them reasons for making uses of a particular technique.
Faculties, including the most distinguished cardiologists, were impressed with the standard of discussions and the technology available in the city. They felt it was comparable with that in the metros.
