Advanced Angioplasty Gives New Lease On Life To 72-Year-Old Patient

A groundbreaking angioplasty procedure has transformed the life of a 72-year-old man from Delhi NCR, who had been enduring years of debilitating chest pain and fatigue despite undergoing bypass surgery a decade ago.

The patient, Jain, struggled with recurring chest pain that left him unable to walk even 50 steps without discomfort. His condition deteriorated further in recent weeks, making sleep nearly impossible due to persistent chest heaviness. After consulting with his family,  Jain sought the expertise of Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao, a renowned interventional cardiologist specialising in complex angioplasty and high-risk cardiac procedures.

Angiography revealed a 90 per cent blockage in one of Jain's bypass grafts, identified as the root cause of his persistent symptoms. Dr. Rao recommended a complex angioplasty using advanced imaging techniques, including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), to precisely assess and address the blockage.

The minimally invasive procedure, performed under local anaesthesia, lasted about an hour. Using imaging guidance, Dr. Rao successfully placed a stent, restoring normal blood flow to the affected artery. The results were immediate and transformative.

"That very night,  Jain slept peacefully for the first time in over 30 days," said Dr. Rao. "By the next day, he was walking for 30 minutes and climbing stairs without discomfort."

Expressing her gratitude, Jain’s daughter shared, “It’s overwhelming to see my father walking independently after years of struggle. He truly has been given a new lease on life.”

Dr. Rao highlighted the importance of imaging-guided angioplasty in reducing complication rates by over 30 per cent compared to traditional methods. “The precision provided by advanced imaging techniques like IVUS and OCT is invaluable in achieving successful outcomes, especially in high-risk cases,” he noted.

This case underscores the significance of Complex High-Risk Indicated Procedures (CHIP) in managing challenging cardiac conditions, such as severe blockages in arteries or bypass grafts.