~ New landmark in Interventional Cardiology pioneered at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai

 Mumbai MMR: Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai (AHNM) is proud to announce a significant landmark in the field of interventional cardiology with the hospital’s highly skilled team of interventional cardiologists successfully using the Stent Positioning Assistance System (SPAS) to place a stent in a patient’s heart for the first time in India. This pivotal achievement underscores Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai’s commitment to pioneering medical advancements and providing top-quality patient care.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Rhythm Disorder & Valve Expert (TAVI, Mitra Clip), Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai said, “In layman’s terms, the Stent Positioning Assistance System or SPAS is a revolutionary piece of technology that helps doctors place a stent—a tiny tube that can open up blocked passages—in an extremely accurate manner within the patient’s heart. This system brings precision to complex heart procedures, thereby potentially saving lives and improving patient outcomes.”

This landmark case involved a 58-year-old female patient, a resident of Navi Mumbai, suffering from complaints of chest pain and breathlessness for about 10 days. With a history of diabetes, hypertension, and hypothyroidism, the Treadmill Test (TMT) was positive, but the 2D-ECHO showed no regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 60%. This meant her heart was pumping 60% of the blood out of her left ventricle (its main pumping chamber) every time it took a beat, which was within the normal range of 55% and 70%. She was therefore advised to undergo coronary angiography (CAG), the result of which revealed critical ostial stenosis in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and was advised to undergo Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA).

The clinical team, led by Dr. Rahul Gupta, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Charan Reddy, Consultant & Associate Professor of Cardiology, and Dr. Rajesh Matta, Junior Consultant Cardiology, chose to deploy the ground-breaking Stent Positioning Assistance System (SPAS) during the Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) procedure. The revolutionary technology helps to precisely position the stent at the ostium or the opening of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), marking a new era in the field of complex percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in India.

“This is a landmark moment not only for Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai but also for Interventional Cardiology in India,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta. “The Stent Positioning Assistance System (SPAS) adds another level of precision to PCI procedures, specifically when it has to be exactly at the ostium of the coronary artery. With this novel technology, we have enhanced our ability to deliver the best patient outcomes and have successfully tackled a significant challenge in interventional cardiology when it comes to complex cases.”

Stent positioning accuracy at the ostium (opening) of coronary arteries is a challenge despite ongoing advances in stent delivery systems. Studies have shown that angiographically-guided stenting leads to a high incidence of stent misplacement, which in turn is associated with significantly higher restenosis and the need for target lesion revascularisation (TLR) compared to patients with accurate stent placement.  The introduction of the SPAS helps to overcome these challenges with an innovative, safe, and efficient device that allows for improved control and precise stent placement during complex PCI procedures.

“The use of SPAS showcases our commitment to incorporating the latest medical technology to provide exceptional patient care,” said Mr. Santosh Marathe, Regional CEO – Western Region, Apollo Hospitals. “AHNM has very active cardiac science services, including comprehensive coverage ranging from paediatric cardiology, structural heart, minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) surgeries and heart transplant. The team is supported by post-operative intensivists, anaesthesia and nursing teams. The successful procedure serves as a beacon of hope for patients who require complex PCI procedures. It shows Apollo Hospitals’ continuous pursuit of medical excellence, utilizing innovative technology for the betterment of patient care. It highlights Apollo Hospitals’ dedication to pioneering advancements in healthcare and its drive to provide world-class services to our patients.”