PUNE: The first successful procedure to remove the obstruction in the artery by using suction catheter took place in Pune. This is an important step in the heart treatment and a 62-year-old patient was treated by using this procedure. Sahyadri Hospital informed that the patient was discharged on the third day.
The patient was sweating profusely and had severe chest pain when he was admitted to the hospital. Investigation revealed that he had suffered a massive heart attack. It became clear that he had suffered a heart attack due to a blockage in the artery supplying blood to the heart. Considering the seriousness of the situation, a team led by the Director of Heart Disease Department at Sahyadri Hospital, Deccan Gymkhana, Dr Abhijit Palshikar, decided to carry out Mechanical Thrombectomy by using suction catheter.
“The use of suction catheter was made for the first time to remove the blockages in the artery. Earlier, this had been used for Pulmonary Embolism, Peripheral Embolism and Cerebral Embolism. But suction catheter has been designed for coronary arteries because they are delicate, soft and flexible. Suction catheter has advanced suction capacity. Patients can avoid using metallic stents in their entire life,” Dr Palshikar said.
The catheter was placed very carefully at the place where there was a blockage. By using a special vacuum pump, suction was done and the obstacle was removed. There was significant improvement in the flow of blood in heart muscles. This was shown in myocardial blush grade (MBG).
By using a new technique, the obstruction in the heart artery was effectively removed. This reduced the chances of medical complications in the patient. The process of inserting the catheter and removing the obstruction was carried out in 10 minutes. The patient was also given medicines to prevent recurrence of the same problem and ensure that the patient gets maximum benefit from the treatment.
What happened after the procedure?
The patient got relief from chest pain
The flow of blood to the heart became regular
The functioning of the heart improved
Patient’s health improved rapidly
Risk of complications was reduced
“The use of suction catheter was made during treatment. This was the first time that suction catheter was used to remove the blockages in the artery. This is a significant achievement in heart disease treatment. Removing obstacles by using mechanical aspiration is an effective method of removing obstacles in the artery. This is very useful in cases where there are lot of obstacles,” said Dr Abhijit Palshikar, heart specialist and Director of Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital
Obstacles are created in the arteries of senior citizens due to the accumulation of cholesterol. Hence, senior citizens suffer heart attacks. In youths, the possibility of heart attacks is more due to formation of blood clots.
