Primary percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty
Primary percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) (including coronary stenting) is now the treatment of choice for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Important Points / Instructions :
- It lowers death rates in patients of heart attack.
- In low-risk AMI patients, primary PTCA has a very low mortality (0.4).
- Patients can be discharged early – after 3-4 days.
- It is also used in patients who are not candidates for Thrombolytic Therapy.
- Patients without ST elevation but with unrelieved ischemic symptoms (a higher-risk group), patients who present late, patients with bleeding contraindications, patients with cardiogenic shock, the elderly are candidates for Primary Angioplasty.
Process :
During primary Angioplasty a small tube is placed at the wrist or the groin. A catheter is inserted through the tube leading to the coronary artery. A wire is passed across the blockage. A balloon is placed on the wire across the blockage and is inflated. The balloon is subsequently removed and a stent is taken on the wire across the blockage and inflated. The Stent stays in the artery preventing the artery from collapsing and maintains the flow in the artery.
Note : This life saving procedure takes approximately 1-2 hours.