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A difficult CTO – Case by Dr. Ramesh Patel Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is one of the most thrilling cases for cardiologists and they give the cardiologist an opportunity to improve their skills. Sometimes these CTOs test their patience,
The rate of deaths due to heart attack is increasing especially among the youth of Tamil Nadu.(Representational Image)) Doctors and researchers have been taking matters into their hands by introducing new techniques of treatment. Chennai: With recent reports stating
Apollo Speciality Hospital, Vanagaram launches CrossBoss Catheter for the first time in Tamil Nadu Dr. Anand Gnanaraj, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Arun Kalyanasundaram, Specialist in Interventional cardiology, Seattle Heart and Vascular Institute and Mr Ram Natesan, GM, Apollo Speciality Hospital, Vanagaram at the launch of the CrossBoss Catheter for the first time in (TN) Tamil Nadu. Apollo Speciality Hospital, Vanagaram launches CrossBoss Catheter for the first time in Tamil Nadu CrossBoss Catheter is a revolutionary new technology which will be used to treat 100% blocked arteries using minimally invasive procedures has once again showcased its excellence with bringing in newer technology of globalstandards to treat its patients. Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Vanagaram constantly seeks new options for their patients with the goal of treating them with the least procedural risk. In that endeavour, new technology device called the CrossBoss Catheter to treat 100% blocked arteries (CTO) is being introduced to patients for the first time in Tamil Nadu at Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram. Highlights of CrossBoss Catheter: * Minimally invasive* Faster recovery* Reduced hospital stay * Minimal blood loss* Can be performed on A decade ago, most of the patients with 100% blocked arteries were either managed medically or sent for surgery with long recovery times before they get back to their work. Today all these blocks can be cleared with latest advancements in angioplasty using advanced technologies that can be performed successfully in a few hours. The Cross Boss Catheter is the latest technology introduced in India for the treatment of 100% blocked arteries. This catheter is made of stainless steel braid and has a rounded tip that can be rotated in any direction. This facilitates the crossing of the 100% block, either through the tough lesions or can travel behind the blocked segment and exit beyond the lesion. At this point the next novel device called StingRay Balloon is used to get back into the actual passage of the blood vessel, using specialised wires. “Around 10 to 20 per cent of patients suffering from coronary artery disease present with 100% blockage in one or two of the arteries which can be quite critical to the patients. Until now, in general the available options to treat 100% blocked arteries are thru cardiac surgeries. With the newer advanced technology such as the CrossBoss Catheter and the Sting Ray Balloon, we will be able to treat 100% blocked arteries with utmost precision & minimum hospital stay with fast recovery in less than 3 days” said Padmashree Dr. K.A. Abraham, Director of Medical Services, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram. “Along with minimal scarring and quicker recovery time, the now introduced devices will add a new dimension to the treatment of chronic total occlusions (100% blocked arteries). This technology enhances the methods used by the Japanese Cardiologists to open these blocked arteries and improves the clinical outcomes”, said Dr. Anand Gnanaraj, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram. “The CrossBoss Catheter and the StingRay Balloon devices are being introduced to our patients for the first time in Tamil Nadu at Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram. We have been awaiting the arrival of the devices since its FDA approval in the United States. For Cardiologists who are specialists in Chronic Total Occlusion (100% blocked arteries), this device is a great tool to have and will improve outcomes significantly. More such devices are expected in the future to treat such complex problems”. This procedure requires a highly skilled intervention cardiologist with expertise along with excellent critical care staff in a tertiary care hospital set up like Apollo Specialty Hospital added Dr. Anand Gnanaraj.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) following a heart attack is fatal 95 percent of the time. Find out why this second heart event happens and how one man beat the odds. It sounds like a cruel joke
Dr. Arun Kalyanasundaram (Dr. AK) is an interventional cardiologist with practices at Highline Medical Center and Swedish Medical Center. He moved to Seattle in 2011. He strongly believes in a holistic approach to cardiology – with a particular emphasis on preventive cardiology primarily through diet and lifestyle. He will be speaking and answering questions at our next Monthly Dining Event on October 17th. We asked him to tell us more about himself and his approach to cardiology. Tell us something about yourself. Where are you from originally, how long have you been a doctor, and cardiologist, and what brings you to the Northwest? I have been a doctor now for about 13 years. I am originally from India. I obtained my MPH at the University of Maryland and then did my residency and fellowship at Geisinger and Cleveland clinics respectively. I chose to move to the Pacific Northwest because it is unique in terms of scenic beauty, cultural diversity and just an overall great place to raise a family. How long have you been a vegetarian? What got you interested in it to begin with? In India, a significant portion of people is vegetarians. I have been a vegetarian life-long. Over the last 3-4 years, I embraced an all plant-based diet primarily for health reasons. Have you discovered any other reasons and advantages for being veg along the way? Absolutely! Being a vegetarian offers clear health advantages – reducing the chance of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, to name a few. The effects on the human body are almost all positive – truly astounding. There are few things in life that are good for our health, good for the planet and all its beings, with virtually no side effects. Do you recommend that your cardiology patients follow a particular diet? I am convinced that patients with heart disease, especially coronary artery disease, should be on a stringent plant-based diet. I am greatly inspired by the work done by Drs Esselstyn, Ornish, and Barnard to name a few. I have studied their work extensively and my ‘template’ for the diet is based on Dr. Esselstyn’s seminal work. What reaction do your patients typically have to the suggestion of changing their diet? Most patients are quite receptive to the idea. Often times, a heart attack serves as a ‘wake-up call’. Several patients of mine have completely transformed their lives. I often use the analogy of a house on fire – opening a clogged vessel in the setting of a heart attack is akin to what the fire brigade does i.e. put out the fire. But then I insist that the onus is on the patient to ensure that the fuel supply feeding the fire is turned off i.e. they make the appropriate lifestyle change. What advantages to their heart health have you typically observed when a patient switches to a veg diet? I have some patients who have had decreased angina and improved exercise tolerance. I have also seen significantly improved risk factor profiles i.e. lowered blood pressure, lower cholesterol, better control of diabetes, weight loss and a general sense of well-being. What other health benefits have your patients experienced as a result of changing their diets? There have been published studies that have shown that a vegetarian diet can prevent and reverse diabetes, reduce the risk of vascular disease and even some kinds of cancers. Personally, I have had patients with improved glycemic control and some that have been able to get away from their diabetic medications. What is it about a veg diet that you wish the public/patients would understand better? 1) Vegetarian food does not have to be boring or tasteless. 2) It is perfectly possible to have a balanced and nutritious all-plant based diet for any population – specifically, it is possible to get enough protein on a plant-based diet. Are you optimistic for the increasing popularity of veg diets in both the medical and lay community in the future? Totally. If you look at the vegetarian movement, it has certainly become mainstream – both in terms of the number of people that are vegetarians and the availability of vegetarian food readily. Obesity, rising healthcare costs, and increasing human population make a plant-based diet the way of the future. Source: https://vegofwa.org/tag/dr-arun-kalyanasundaram/
