Apollo Doctors Perform Pioneering Procedure To Clear Blockage

A PIONEERING procedure for clearing blockage in saphenous venous bypass graft with a special protection device was performed for the first time in India by a team of doctors led by Dr P C Rath at the Apollo Hospital here.

Dr Rath, interventional cardiologist and director Cath Lab at Apollo Hospital and his colleague Dr Manoj Agarwala told mediapersons on Thursday, that saphenous venous grafts are used during cardiac surgery to bypass blocked coronary arteries.

However, with the passage of time, these bypass grafts undergo wear and tear and develop blockages because of the atherosclerotic process. The block producing material is mainly friable fatty foods and blood clots.

 

"Traditionally, the blockage is cleared by balloon angioplasty and stenting (a spring-like device).