Peace Of Mind For Coronary Heart Patients

Being diagnosed with coronary heart disease can be disheartening. Fortunately, there are excellent treatments, doctors and facilities to provide treatment and therapy. At Medical Referrals, we have over 50 experienced cardiologists and cardio-thoracic surgeons to provide a comprehensive range of treatments and , and impeccable care for cardiovascular problems.

Coronary artery disease – CAD – is among the leading causes of death, but with timely detection and appropriate treatment and care, including surgery, you can save your heart.

CAD Basics CAD occurs when one or more coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked  by artherosclerotic plaque builds up on the arteries that supply blood to the heart. If a blood clot – thrombus – forms on top of thisplaque, the artery becomes completely blocked and blood supply is compromised. That is when a heart attack ensues.

When Does Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) become unavoidable?

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft  - or, heart bypass surgery – is one of the surgical treatments recommended to treat patients
with serious narrowings and blockages of the heart. CABG is performed to relieve angina in patients who have failed medical therapy and who are not good candiodates for Percutaneous Intervention (PCI). PCI is a procedure where a small balloon is used to inflate the blocked artery, and it is followed by the insertion of a stent to increase coronary artery blood flow.
According to Medical Referrals consultant, Dr. Ong Kim Kiat, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore – CABG is one of the most commonly performed major operations.
CABG is useful for patients with multiple blocked coronary arteries. This condition is often found in patients with diabetes.
CABG has been found to improve long term survival in patients with significant narrowing of the left main coronary artery and multiple arteries, especially in those with decreased heart muscle pump action.

CABG – A Delicate Procedure With Concrete
Results
This surgery involves harvesting and sewing a section of vein from the patient’s leg, or chest, to create a bypass around a section of a blocked or diseased artery. This new route provides an oxygen-rich blood supply to the heart so that it works properly.

Usual time spent in hospital: around a week
Success rate: 90%

Other Surgery Techniques

Besides traditional CABG. here are few new heart surgery techniques -

Off-Pump CABG

This technique allows for surgery on a beating heart – the surgeon does not use a cardiopulmonary bypass. Using special
equipment to stabilize an area of the heart, the surgeon goes to work. The use and benefits of Off-Pump surgery depend on the surgeon’s experience and the patient’s risk profile.

Medical Referrals’ specialist Dr. Sim says, “This type of surgery is challenging because the heart is moving. Because of this, it is not an option for everyone. Generally, the benefit is greater for older and higher risk patients.

Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (MIDCAGB)

This surgery is performed with a small incision, about 3-4 cm. It may be done without stopping the heart, and some patients
can even leave the hospital in 48 hours. In traditional CAGB surgery, the surgeon needs to split the breastbone. MIDCABG is less painful, and recovry is much faster. However, this procedure is only used for patients whose blockages can be bypassed through this small incision and whose risk of complications is low.

Surgeons today, such as Dr. Naresh Trehan, use robotics to assist in performing this delicate surgery.

Endoscopioc Vein/Artery Harvesting

This technique has been shown to improve recovery and reduce infection and complications. Instead of making a long incision around the length of the leg, the vein or artery can be harvested through keyhole surgery – a small incision of 1 cm. This is used as a graft to bypass the blockage.

Stem Cell Transplant

“This treament holds promise for patients whose hearts are permanently damaged and beyond repair. It involves injecting new cells - either the patient’s own myoblast (muscle stem cells) or stem cells from the blood to replace damaged cells,” Says Dr. Sim.

In certain clinical studies patients’ damaged heart muscle improves after stem cell therapy.

How Successful Is Heart Surgery?
Complications following heart surgery are uncommon, says another Medical Referrals consultant, Dr. Ong at Gleneagles, Singapore.

Dr. Ong says, “In many patients undergoing heart or bypass surgery, the risk is less than 1%.”

However, although bypass surgery improves blood supply to the heart, it does not cure the underlying CAD.
Results and long term outcome depend in part on following healthy lifestyle recommendations and taking medications as
directed.

    If you need to check out high quality care, accredited surgeons, procedures, or rates for

        * Coronary Angiogram
        * Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)
        * Coronary Angiogram KIV PCI (Immediate)
        * Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

    send your query and details in an email to

    medreferrals@gmail.com