Badr Al Samaa, Ruwi successfully completes 1,000 coronary procedures

The coronary angiogram is currently the gold standard test to identify the blocks in the coronary arteries

MUSCAT: Badr Al Samaa Heart Centre, Ruwi, has successfully performed more than 1,000 coronary procedures.

This coveted milestone was achieved without any procedure related significant complications, says a press release.

The coronary angiogram is currently the gold standard test to identify the blocks in the coronary arteries. It involves passing a thin tube or catheter in the arteries and injecting a radio opaque dye directly to the coronary arteries thereby enabling one to visualise and identify accurately the location, severity, etc. of the blocks. There are many ways to identify these blocks but invasive coronary angiography is the most accurate test for this and it is essential for planning procedures such as coronary interventions and stenting or bypass surgery.

Traditionally coronary angiograms were used to perform by puncturing the artery in the groin. But this necessitates the patient to be at bed rest at least six hours to prevent bleeding from the site of puncture. Moreover this site needs careful attention to avoid complications. However angiograms now in most instances can be easily and conveniently done through the wrist, puncturing the radial artery. This approach is more safe and simple which obviates the need for bed rest. Patient can immediately walk after the procedure if otherwise well. Moreover in many cases patients are discharged on the same day after the procedure after several hours of observation.

Once the block is identified by angiogram, if suitable it can be treated by angioplasty and stenting in the same sitting that makes the procedure easy for both the patient and the operator because there is no need to re-puncture the artery for a second time.

Basically, a heart attack happens when the artery facilitating blood supply to the heart muscle is blocked. It is, in other words, the death of a segment of heart muscle caused by the loss of blood supply. The blood supply is usually lost because a coronary artery, one that supplies blood to the heart muscle, has a blood clot or blockage. Getting it removed at the best possible time is the best treatment and here, time plays a crucial role. If the blockage isn’t treated quickly, the portion of heart muscle fed by the artery begins to die. Healthy heart tissue is replaced with scar tissue. This heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause severe or long-lasting problems.

Here comes the method of primary angioplasty and stenting very handy for the rescue of the patient. When an angioplasty is used to re-open a coronary artery when someone is having a heart attack, it is called a primary angioplasty. Primary angioplasty is the most preferred treatment for many people having a heart attack, but best results are achieved if it can be done very soon after the symptoms start. Badr Al Samaa Heart Centre is one of the few centres in private offering primary angioplasty, the best way to treat an acute heart attack. According to Dr Benny Panakkal MD., DM, FAPSC, FACC, senior consultant interventional cardiologist, head of the Department, Cardiology, “Time plays a crucial role in the medical assistance provided to the victim of heart attack and once delayed the chances of saving a precious life also diminishes. The patient has to be brought to a hospital with interventional cardiologist as soon as possible so that primary angioplasty can be done within the next 90 minutes in order to keep him out of danger and to ensure a better recovery process.”

It was believed that a certain dosage of Morphine and bed rest are the two pillars to rescue a person who had heart attack in the 1960’s followed by the adage of 1970’s where the practice of dissolving the blood clot after administering Aspirin and clot lysing injection. From there, the medical science has come a long way providing fast way to open artery by primary angioplasty giving better results. Gone are the days where the result of heart attack was invariably connected to death and today the slogan is that a life can be saved if he or she is brought to medical care as soon as the symptoms of heart attack are shown and primary angioplasty could be performed within a timeframe of 90 minutes or as soon as possible.

“The patient on whom the primary angioplasty is performed can leave the hospital in the next two days and walk home to pursue further medication. We routinely do primary angioplasties which is the best method to treat a heart attack. We receive patients from other institutions when complications occur during the course of a heart attack and only option to save the life is an emergency angioplasty. We are happy that we are able to save several lives in this situation. Ministry of Health and cardiology divisions of both Royal Hospital and SQUH always give us all necessary support and guidance in this regard.

“Our department in Ruwi, the Badr Al Samaa Heart Centre is well equipped to manage all cardiac emergencies. A full time service of cardiology team is available round the clock to manage any cardiac emergencies,” he added.