The heart is the patron saint of life, and stable functioning is crucial. Once there is a problem with the heart, the consequences can be fatal.
The number of patients with cardiovascular diseases in mainland China is basically as high as 330 million, and two out of every five deaths are related to cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiac stent surgery is a critical step in the treatment of coronary heart disease, and a large number of patients undergo this procedure each year to improve their health.
In this process, cardiac stents play an indispensable role as an important medical device.
But why are there rumors that the mainland will no longer perform "heart stent surgery"? There are also rumors that people will not be able to do it after the "heart stent" surgery?
What the hell is going on? Let's take a closer look!
1. Is the "heart stent" wasted after it is done?
"Once you have heart stent surgery, is your life coming to an end?" This question is undoubtedly alarming.
Faced with such questions, doctors have to reveal the truth frankly: the answer is not a simple yes or no, but requires comprehensive and in-depth science popularization and interpretation.
First and foremost, it is crucial to have an in-depth understanding of the main goals of cardiac stent surgery.
As an effective treatment for coronary heart disease, this procedure aims to restore or lift the blood supply to the heart muscle by placing a stent in a narrowed or blocked coronary artery.
This technology not only significantly relieves symptoms such as angina, but also allows patients to rekindle their passion for life.
Considering the efficacy of cardiac stent surgery, it is undoubtedly an effective therapy.
However, just like any surgical procedure, there are certain risks and potential side effects associated with this procedure.
During the surgery, complications such as damage to blood vessels, bleeding, etc. may be encountered.
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Many patients have doubts about whether they will be able to continue to participate in physical activity after surgery, fearing that the stent implanted in the body may move or fall off.
However, once implanted, the stent is quickly covered by vascular endothelial cells, as if it were growing naturally in the blood vessels.
In daily activities, they will neither shift nor fall off, and will not affect our normal life and rhythm, so there is no need to worry and be anxious.
2. What is "cardiac stent" surgery?
Cardiac stent surgery, a common method in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, is also known as coronary artery stenting.
Using catheters and X-ray guided techniques, doctors are able to implant one or more metal stents inside the coronary arteries.
It is designed to maintain the open state of blood vessels and increase the blood supply to the heart muscle, thereby reducing discomfort such as angina.
The core mechanism of the procedure involves using a catheter to deliver a stent to an area of narrowed or blocked coronary artery, and then deploying the stent so that it can dilate and support the blood vessel wall, ensuring unimpeded blood flow.
Stents are mostly made of stainless steel or nitinol, which provide strong support and excellent flexibility, allowing them to adapt to different vessel shapes and sizes.
When performing surgery, doctors use X-ray navigation technology to precisely place the stent.
The procedure involves first introducing a catheter through the femoral or radial artery to the coronary artery, and then passing the stent through the catheter to a predetermined stenosis or blockage.
Once the stent is in place, the doctor uses a balloon to dilate the stent so that it is fully open and firmly supports the walls of the blood vessels, thus restoring the normal function of the blood vessels.
3. Who needs to do it?
Patients with unstable angina: cardiac stent surgery is a vital treatment for these patients.
This is mainly due to the significant similarity between unstable angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction in terms of pathological mechanisms, both involving a thrombotic process triggered by plaque rupture.
Despite this, in the case of unstable angina, the blood clot that forms does not completely block the blood flow and still allows a certain amount of blood to pass through.
However, the damage to the heart muscle and the resulting necrosis, although severe, do not reach the extreme levels of acute myocardial infarction.
People with stenosis of more than 70%: When more than 70% of the coronary arteries are narrowed, it usually needs to be resolved by cardiac stent surgery.
This is because, once an examination reveals that a stenosis exceeds this percentage, accompanied by a variety of adverse symptoms, it is difficult for the blood vessel to regain patency on its own.
In such cases, cardiac stent surgery is the most desirable treatment option.
This is because surgery is only effective when the stenosis is 70% or more effective and can control the stenosis and prevent further deterioration of the condition and a more serious threat to health.
Patients with myocardial ischemia: for patients with myocardial ischemia who do not have obvious symptoms, cardiac stent surgery is also an essential treatment.
Although these patients may not show any significant symptoms in their daily lives.
However, after examination methods such as exercise stress test and electrocardiogram monitoring, it is often found that they actually have a more serious myocardial ischemia problem.
In addition, the results of coronary angiography further confirm that the vascular lesions in these patients are quite severe.
Diabetic patients or patients with blocked blood vessels: for these patients, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are a complication that they need special attention.
In people with diabetes, about 70% to 80% of mortality is related to cardiovascular-related complications or comorbidities.
Therefore, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems should be highly valued.
If a diabetic patient experiences blockage in an artery, a heart stent procedure is usually recommended to restore normal blood flow to the artery.
Fourth, after the operation, the person is gone?
Cardiac stent surgery has been controversial, and many people are concerned about whether life will face more uncertainty once a stent is placed.
However, the heart, as the most critical organ in the body, has an extremely low acceptance of any foreign substances.
Although stent surgery uses advanced technology, it cannot completely rule out the possibility of rejection in the body.
These phenomena may cause some discomfort to our body, but they are not life-threatening.
Therefore, we are unable to provide a definitive answer to the question of how long you can live after surgery.
However, if you can take proper care after surgery, take your medications on time, and maintain the health of your blood vessels, you can still continue your life like a normal person without encountering too many abnormal situations.
However, some patients unfortunately pass away after stent surgery, which is often not related to the stent itself, but is mainly affected by two major factors:
1. The complexity of the disease itself
The main purpose of stent surgery is to address severe narrowing of blood vessels, but for some patients, this is only part of their health condition.
The patient's general health, as well as other comorbidities, can affect the progress of recovery after surgery.
For example, for patients with acute myocardial infarction, cardiac stents can quickly restore vascular patency and relieve urgent conditions.
However, it does not repair the damaged heart muscle tissue, so there is still a risk of various complications after surgery.
2. Development and application of surgical techniques
With the rapid development of medical technology, cardiac surgery has also ushered in a major breakthrough.
Historically, heart surgery has often been associated with higher risks and a longer recovery period.
Nowadays, cardiac stent implantation has been transformed into a minimally invasive interventional procedure.
In this procedure, the patient can remain awake, recover quickly after surgery, and be able to regain the ability to walk and eat in a short period of time, requiring only simple care for tiny incisions.
In general, cardiac stent surgery can not only effectively alleviate the problem of vascular stenosis, but also significantly reduce the probability of serious events such as acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death, essentially helping patients prolong their lives.
5. How should I take care of the surgery after surgery?
During the critical months of recovery from surgery, patients need to return to the hospital for regular follow-ups.
These tests allow the doctor to assess in detail the effectiveness of the surgery and the progress of physical recovery.
Based on each patient's specific situation and recovery status, doctors will carefully design a personalized follow-up plan to ensure that each step of the way meets the patient's recovery needs.
During this period, patients are advised to adopt a light diet and avoid those spicy, greasy foods as these foods may adversely affect the recovery process.
At the same time, it is important to quit smoking and alcohol, as both tobacco and alcohol can interfere with the body's normal recovery mechanisms.
In addition, taking medication exactly as prescribed is an important part of the recovery process, which helps to maintain a stable internal environment and promote wound healing.
Patients also need to keep an eye on their heart rate changes, and any abnormalities need to be reported to the doctor immediately so that they can be dealt with promptly.
Although stents have been implanted to help the blood vessels return to normal function, proper physical activity is still recommended.
Not only does this help boost the immune system and boost metabolism, but it also reduces the risk of blood vessels becoming clogged again.
Getting enough quality sleep is also an important aspect of the recovery process.
Only when all parts of the body are well rested and repaired can you more effectively protect the health of your blood vessels and lay a solid foundation for full recovery.
epilogue
Although there may be some risks associated with cardiac stent implantation, it is essential for patients with unstable angina, patients with coronary artery stenosis greater than 70%, patients with myocardial ischemia, and people with diabetes or those who have already experienced coronary artery occlusion.
However, mounting brackets are not a one-and-done solution.
The bracket itself does not require regular maintenance and can work for a long time.
However, if you do not pay attention to the adjustment of a healthy lifestyle, stop the medication at will or take the medication irregularly, coronary artery stenosis and blockage may reappear after surgery.
All in all, cardiac stents have saved many lives, but they are by no means foolproof.
Therefore, even after the stent is implanted, patients should follow their doctor's instructions, take their medications on time, and actively improve their lifestyle habits in order to better manage their health conditions.
References:
Will the "heart stent" surgery be gradually stopped in China? Is it wasted when you are done? The doctor tells the truth! ——Dr. Kun's popular science2024-01-08
Cardiac stent surgery may be phased out in China? Is it wasted when you are done? Doctors tell the truth - Dr. Jiang talks about health knowledge2023-12-23