Innovative treatment for blocked arteries now available in Mangalore

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
With Inputs from Media Release

Mangalore, Oct 23: Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS), an innovative device designed to treat patients with blocked arteries, is now available in Mangalore.

29-year-old Raakesh Shetty (name changed), recently married, is a smoker with no previous history of heart condition. He was wheeled into emergency at AJ Hospital and Research Centre when he complained of uneasiness and chest pain. He was immediately taken to Cathlab when doctors confirmed he had a heart attack and needed immediate surgery. Doctors decided to implant novel treatment for clogged arteries – Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS). The patient was discharged the next day and feels healthier today.

BVS is a groundbreaking device designed to restore blood flow by opening a clogged vessel and providing support while it heals. Once the vessel can remain open without the extra support, the bioresorbable scaffold is designed to be slowly metabolized and eventually dissolves into carbon dioxide and water in the body.

"Treatments for coronary artery disease have come a long way from the days of balloon angioplasties and metal stents. However, a dissolving stent like BVS is interesting as the clogged artery can be enlarged and supported effectively without the stent leaving any fragments behind in the blood stream," explained Dr B V Manjunath, interventional cardiologist, AJ Hospital and Research Centre, addressing a press meet here on Wednesday October 23.

For the first time in India, insurance is being provided to the patient with BVS. Insurance covers against the risk of re-do procedure: Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)and Plain Old Balloon Angioplasty(POBA) in a patient where BVS is deployed. The sum assured per scaffold is 2 lac which will cover hospitalization expenses. The cover is valid for 2 years from the date of implant.

Dr R Purushotham, interventional cardiologist at AJ Hospital and Research Centre added, “The device is made of polylactide, a proven biocompatible material that is commonly used in medical implants such as dissolving sutures. Since a permanent implant is not left behind, a vessel treated with a BVS ultimately may have the ability to move, flex and pulsate similar to an untreated vessel. The potential to restore these naturally occurring vessel functions, or vascular restoration, is one of the features that will make BVS unique in the treatment of coronary artery disease.”

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally and by 2030, almost 23.6 million people will die from cardiovascular disease every year. The largest increase in number of deaths will occur in the South-East Asia region.

"The average age of people with heart ailments is coming down. We are getting patients as young as 25," said Dr Manjunath and Dr Purushotham. "With an ever-increasing number of young Indians suffering from heart diseases, a drastic change in lifestyle and eating habits is the need of the hour to tackle the alarming situation. Many of the young professionals today have odd working hours that leads to stress, and not many of them have the privilege of savouring home cooked meals. On top of it, the indulgence in smoking and drinking to “reduce the stress” worsens the situation. Such a lifestyle results in high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, etc leading to heart ailments," they said.

About BVS (Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold)

BVS is a first-of-its-kind device for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). It works by restoring blood flow to the heart similar to a metallic stent, but then dissolves into the body, leaving behind a treated vessel that may resume more natural function and movement because it is free of a permanent metallic stent. The potential long-term benefits of a scaffold that dissolves are significant. The vessel may expand and contract as needed to increase the flow of blood to the heart in response to normal activities such as exercising; treatment and diagnostic options are broadened; the need for long-term treatment with anti-clotting medications may be reduced; and future interventions would be unobstructed by a permanent implant.