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How can a coronary artery blockage be treated?

Dr Neeraj Bhalla
Interventional cardiologist,
Max Heart & Vascular Institute,
New Delhi

Q: How can the blockage in the heart that is detected during angiography be treated? Is it treated during the angiography itself?

A:Coronary blockages detected during angiography can be treated by angioplasty and stenting. Unless the patient has an emergency such as an ongoing heart attack or unstable angina or features of high risk either clinically or on tests, there is no need to clear these blockages immediately, and the angioplasty can always be planned. In several cases however, if agreed upon by the patient and attendants, for convenience and to avoid another procedure ad hoc angioplasty can be carried out in the same sitting.