Italian Cardiologist Dr Imad Sheiban meets Doctors in Bhubaneshwar
In what could be termed as Bhubeneshwar’s proud moment, Dr(Prof.) Imad Sheiban, Director – Interventional Cardiology and Cath Lab, Pederzolli Hospital, Italy, visited Bhubaneshwar and discussed with the city doctors, options available for treatment of left main and bifurcation diseases, some of the most complex type of angioplasty cases.
Patients who have blocks in their Left Main Coronary Artery (also known as widow maker) had to undergo CABG (bypass surgery) until recently as the only option. However, with the increasing experience of the operators, availability of better hardware, intra coronary imaging techniques along with several support devices; treatment of such diseases by stenting is becoming widely accepted as an alternate to CABG in select group of patients.
Dr Imad Sheiban explained as to how these procedures were earlier majorly attempted globally. However increasing access to advanced imaging technologies like i-Lab (IVUS) from Boston Scientific along with constant exchange of ideas and training between Indian and global key opinion leaders; such difficult cases are now being regularly and successfully attempted in India.
Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) is a medical imaging technique which allows the doctor to have a detailed look into the blood vessels of patient’s heart, from inside-out. This inside-out view of the blood vessel can give additional information to the doctor about the appropriate stent-size required. Once the stent has been placed inside the blood vessel, the inside view of the blood vessel through IVUS can also give information if the stent is covering the diseased area completely and if it is properly hugging the vessel wall.
On the occasion, Dr Imad Sheiban said “I’m very pleased to be in India and visit Bhubaneshwar to interact with my colleagues here and exchange ideas & patient case studies with them. World over, the medical scientists are thriving to advance medical technologies, be it hardware, devices or techniques, for better patient care & safety. It is inevitable that such continuous advancements are known to medical practisoners everywhere and such technologies are made available in every corner of the world”
Present at the occasion, Dr P.K. Sahoo of the Apollo Hospital commented that patients in Orissa can now be assured of receiving long term clinical benefits enabled by an i-Lab (IVUS) assisted complex coronary procedure. We have the facility and the knowhow of such procedures locally that enhances patient results that this technology provides.
Angiography provides a two-dimensional image whereas IVUS offers a three-dimensional detailed image of all the layers of the blood vessel. While, Angiography shows the narrowing of the blood vessel, it may not provide any information about the nature of the blockage or about the composition of the plaque. In current practice, IVUS is done in conjunction with angiography, and not as its replacement.