Blood Flow Measurement - Chronic Total Occlusion

BERKSHIRE, U.K. - Dec. 30, 2014 - PRLog -- Heart disease and stroke still remain the top killers worldwide - as per  the fact sheet published by The World Health Organization. Cardiologists have been striving hard to devise and implement better treatment plans for heart patients over the last few decades. Still, these health care experts have a lot of work to do on their approach to tackle ischemic heart diseases. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease which occurs when the coronary arteries become clogged up and can’t supply blood to the myocardial tissues. Atherosclerotic condition promoted by an unhealthy lifestyle and habits are the main reasons for the plaque build-up in the arteries.

Fats, lipids or even calcium deposits present in the coronary arteries can narrow the blood vessel, thereby reducing the blood flow. In some cases, the blood flow is completely compromised leading to either heart attack or angina. Whenever there is a complete or nearly complete blockage for at least three months in duration, it is termed as chronic total occlusion (CTO). Different from the soft plaque, the histopathology of CTO reveals a complex fibrocalcific plaque with chronic organized thrombus. Treatment varies for patients with CTO as it is individualised based on the severity of the symptoms as well as the CAD conditions. Patients with stable CAD conditions are prescribed with medical therapy in most of cases, while revascularization procedures are performed on patients who remain symptomatic despite drug treatments. However, new advancements in interventional cardiology attempts to promote percutaneous recanalizaton strategy. To find more information about the new advances in chronic total occlusions, visit the link - http://www.radcliffecardiology.com/articles/new-advances-chronic-total-occlusions

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery is the conventional revascularization procedure performed to treat the occluded arteries of CAD patients with multivessel diseases. In contrast, devising a risk management plan for the patients with isolated CTO has been a challenge for interventional cardiologists. With the advanced blood flow measurement techniques and catheterization procedures, the possibility to achieve successful recanalization has become higher. Increasing success rates of percutaneous intervention for treating chronic occlusions ensures a promising outlook in the near future.