Dialysis patient develops main artery blocks with calcium

* Patient was rejected for PTCA at other hospitals due to high-risk

* KIMS Kurnool doctors provide state-of-the-art treatment

A 68-year-old patient, who suffers from Chronic Kidney Disease and undergoes thrice-weekly dialysis, experienced heart problems. However, due to high risk, the patient was turned away for PTCA treatment at two other medical centres. Fortunately, the skilled team of doctors at KIMS Hospitals in Kurnool was able to provide state-of-the-art treatment using modern facilities available at the hospital. They performed a Scoring Balloon Angioplasty procedure and placed stents. Dr. Nagendra Prasad Thota, the consultant interventional cardiologist, explained the details of the procedure.

Mr Omkaram Satya Narayanaraju, a resident of Kondapuram village in Kurnool district, is a retired employee who is currently 68 years old. He has been suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has been undergoing dialysis three times a week. However, he recently experienced severe breathlessness due to insufficient oxygen supply to his heart muscles. Further medical tests revealed that he had moderate to severe LV dysfunction, and a coronary angiogram showed critical lesions in LAD with calcium. There were two blocks with calcium on the left side main artery. Despite the need for Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), two higher centers rejected the procedure due to the patient’s CKD condition.

After being admitted to KIMS Hospital in Kurnool, the patient underwent dialysis and the following day, a PTCA procedure was performed using a special balloon called a Scoring Balloon to break the calcium in LAD artery. The procedure was successful, and two drug-eluting stents were deployed. The balloon proved effective in breaking the calcium blocks in the arteries, and the patient was discharged after two dialysis sessions. Dr. Nagendra Prasad Thota explained that this advanced treatment was provided completely free under the Employees Health Scheme.

Scoring balloon angioplasty

Scoring balloons are a type of balloon that is used to score plaque in non-compliant arteries. They are designed specifically for calcific and fibrotic lesions and can avoid balloon slippage in ISR lesions as well as plaque shift in bifurcation lesions. The procedure is relatively simple and less expensive than Rotablation & Atherectomy but has some limitations. Scoring balloons can only be used in mild to moderately calcified arteries with minimal vessel tortuosity. In cases of severe calcification, other procedures such as Rotablation may be necessary.