Plaque (fatty deposits) that build up in your arteries and obstruct blood flow increase your risk of a heart attack. Doctors may advise a coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) operation or a stent, a tiny tube placed in a blocked artery if it is found early. Stents also offer a minimally invasive method to restore a blocked artery.
However, Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (also known as CABG) is still the most common treatment for people with severe coronary artery disease (CAD).
What is better for you, CABG or stents depends on your condition and factors like medical history. However, doctors often recommend CABG because it has low risk, a high survival rate, and a short recovery period. Most people need clarification about which treatment is better, CABG or stents. Today in this article, we will discuss "Is CABG Better than Stents" or not?
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What is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a plaque-induced narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries. Heart attacks and severe chest discomfort are possible indications of coronary artery disease.
Doctors may use surgical procedures to treat coronary artery disease, including bypass surgery or stent placement.
The best course of treatment in the best hospitals is typically a matter of personal preference. Each technique offers a unique set of drawbacks and advantages.
Numerous factors are taken into account, including the quantity and location of the obstructions. Before choosing whether the outcome is preferable, the cardiologist and the patient's preferences are considered.
In some circumstances, the choice is clear. There are, nevertheless, some grey areas. Sometimes it is not immediately apparent that one option is better than the others.
This article will compare the advantages and disadvantages of bypass surgery and stents for treating CAD to determine which is more effective.
The Process of Stents
A coronary artery stent is a tiny metal or plastic tube to open a blocked artery. A stent can restore blood flow and lower the risk of a heart attack when a buildup of cholesterol blocks an artery.
What are the Advantages of Stenting?
- When there is a medical emergency, Stenting is typically preferred to CABG.
- The availability of stents in various sizes, forms, and materials allows the cardiologist several alternatives for treating the patient.
What are the Surgical Risks of Advantages?
It is thought to be a high-risk procedure. Unexpected issues do arise occasionally. For instance, severe bleeding might require immediate switching to open surgery.
The stent is intended for single-channel blockages that pose a serious hazard to life. It is not regarded as the best when many vessels are blocked.
What is Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery CABG?
By grafting a blood vessel between the aorta and the coronary artery, or arteries leading to the heart muscle, coronary artery bypass surgery, also known as heart bypass surgery, improves blood supply to the heart. It is typical to need two to four grafts, often a double, triple, or quadruple bypass.
What are the Advantages of a CABG Procedure?
- It reduces the possibility of a heart attack.
- It has the power to decrease or cure heart conditions permanently.
- It gives physical activities a sudden jolt of energy.
- For diabetic patients, bypass surgery is also more efficient than Stenting.
- In some cases, a bypass operation is necessary.
In some cases, a bypass operation is necessary. For instance, bypass is the best option when a blood artery is exceptionally frail and unsound.
If the artery structure is particularly complex, bypass surgery is preferable.
What are the Risks of CABG?
- Chest pain
- Stroke
Heart rate variations - Bleeding
- Allergic reaction to anaesthesia or other surgical tools
- Damage to the nerves
- In rare situations, death
How Long Does it Take for Each to Recover?
The recovery time is shortened because angioplasty is frequently performed on individuals with less severe artery disease and requires little or no anaesthesia.
It could take 6 to 12 weeks for a conventional CABG patient to recover fully. This period is substantially shorter for MIDCAB.
Conclusion
It can be challenging to decide between Stenting and bypass surgery. After a thorough evaluation by the cardiologist, which involves looking at the degree of the CAD, the number of vessels that need to be repaired, and medical history, among other things, a decision can be taken.
The answer to "is CABG better than stents" in patients with more than two blocked arteries or a blockage or narrowing in their left major coronary artery is typically advised to seek CABG. A cardiac bypass is also recommended for people with diabetes or heart failure since it improves survival rates.
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