Primary Angioplasty – A Life-Saving Treatment for Heart Attack
Primary Angioplasty, also known as Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), is an emergency procedure performed to quickly restore blood flow to the heart muscle during a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction). This minimally invasive technique helps open blocked coronary arteries, preventing permanent heart damage and improving survival rates.
What is Primary Angioplasty?
During a heart attack, one or more coronary arteries become blocked due to a buildup of plaque or a blood clot, cutting off blood supply to a part of the heart. Primary Angioplasty involves threading a thin, flexible tube called a catheter through a blood vessel (usually from the wrist or groin) to the blocked artery. A tiny balloon on the catheter’s tip is inflated at the blockage site to widen the artery, and often a stent (a small mesh tube) is placed to keep the artery open permanently.
Why is Primary Angioplasty Important?
Primary Angioplasty is the gold standard treatment for patients suffering from an acute heart attack because it restores blood flow quickly and effectively. This immediate intervention minimizes heart muscle damage, reduces complications, and improves long-term outcomes, including survival and quality of life. Compared to clot-busting medications (thrombolysis), angioplasty is more effective in reopening blocked arteries with fewer risks of bleeding.
Who Needs Primary Angioplasty?
Primary Angioplasty is recommended for patients experiencing a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a severe type of heart attack where the artery is completely blocked. It should be performed as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, sweating, or fainting to prevent irreversible heart damage.
Benefits of Primary Angioplasty
- Rapid restoration of blood flow to the heart
- Reduced risk of heart failure and other complications
- Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery
- Improved survival rates
- Minimally invasive with quick return to daily activities
Our Expertise
Our cardiac care center is equipped with state-of-the-art catheterization labs and experienced interventional cardiologists trained in performing Primary Angioplasty with precision and care. We emphasize rapid diagnosis, timely treatment, and comprehensive follow-up to ensure the best outcomes for our patients.
