It cannot be denied that heart health is a crucial aspect that influences a person's quality of life. We realize that heart disease is one of the main causes of death throughout the world, so it requires appropriate treatment in every healing process. To treat heart problems, there are various medical procedures that can be performed, including cardiac catheterization and stent placement. Even though they are often referred to together, these two procedures certainly have fundamental differences.
Cardiac Catheterization
It should be understood that cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure used to diagnose and evaluate the condition of a patient's heart and its blood vessels. This procedure involves inserting a catheter, which is a thin, flexible tube into a large blood vessel, usually in the groin, wrist, or neck, which is then guided to the heart.
Cardiac catheterization has several benefits, including:
- Measures blood pressure in the heart chambers.
- Taking a blood sample from the heart.
- Identify blockages or narrowing that occur in the coronary arteries.
- Evaluate the pumping function of the heart.
- Perform a heart tissue biopsy if necessary.
How is the Cardiac Catheterization Procedure Performed?
- Before starting the procedure, the patient will be given local anesthesia in the catheter insertion area.
- Next, the catheter will be inserted through the blood vessels to the heart.
- There is a contrast dye that may be injected to help see the blood vessels and heart chambers more clearly through X-rays (angiography).
- During the procedure, the doctor can measure the pressure and blood flow in the heart chambers and coronary arteries.
In practice, of course cardiac catheterization has benefits and risks. The benefits include being able to get a detailed picture of the condition of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiac catheterization also helps the treating doctor in planning further actions, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery. Apart from that, this procedure is also non-invasive which is relatively safe and fast. However, you also need to know the possible risks that can arise from the cardiac catheterization procedure, such as bleeding or infection at the catheter insertion site, arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), or an allergic reaction to contrast dye. Therefore, all cardiac catheterization procedures must be carried out in consultation with the treating doctor to provide the best solution for your heart problems.
Ring (Stent) Installation
Unlike cardiac catheterization, stent installation involves a therapeutic procedure to open blocked and narrowed coronary arteries. A stent is a small, mesh-shaped tube that is placed in an artery to keep the blood vessel open and ensure smooth blood flow to the heart.
Ring installation also has several benefits, including:
- Restores adequate blood flow to the heart.
- Prevents heart attacks in patients with coronary artery disease.
- Reduces symptoms of angina (chest pain).
How is the ring installation procedure carried out?
- The procedure begins with cardiac catheterization to determine the location of the blockage.
- A balloon attached to the catheter is inflated to open the artery once a blockage is detected.
- The stent is then placed in the area opened by the balloon and the balloon is deflated again.
- The stent that has been inserted remains in place to keep the artery open.
- Patients may need to take antiplatelet drugs to prevent blood clots from forming around the stent, of course according to the doctor's recommendations.
The ring installation procedure certainly also has accompanying benefits and possible risks. The benefits provided include reducing the risk of heart attack, reducing angina symptoms and improving quality of life, a relatively fast recovery process compared to heart bypass surgery. Apart from that, this procedure is minimally invasive with a high success rate. Risks that may occur include restenosis (re-narrowing of the artery around the stent), stent thrombosis (formation of blood clots in the stent), or allergic reactions to the stent material or the drugs used. Therefore, when installing a ring, you must also consult with a doctor to maximize the benefits and avoid risks.
Difference between cardiac catheterization and ring placement
- Objective:
- Cardiac catheterization: Aims at diagnosis, evaluating the condition of the heart and blood vessels.
- Installation of a ring: Aims for therapy, opening blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. - Procedure:
- Cardiac Catheterization: Involves inserting a catheter to take images and data from the heart.
- Ring placement: Involves the insertion of a catheter and the use of a balloon and stent to open the artery. - The final result:
- Cardiac Catheterization: Provides detailed diagnostic information for the treating physician.
- Ring placement: Keeps arteries open. Apart from that, installing a ring also functions to restore blood flow to the heart.
Cardiac catheterization and stenting are two important procedures in treating heart disease, but they have different goals and methods. Cardiac catheterization is used primarily for diagnosis, while stenting is a therapeutic measure to treat blocked coronary arteries. Both of these procedures have their own benefits and risks, and the decision to do one or both must be discussed with a heart specialist to get maximum treatment. Thus, in-depth knowledge of these two procedures not only helps in making the right medical decisions, but also increases understanding of heart health conditions in general.
Article written by dr. Kabul Priyantoro, Sp.JP (K), FIHA (Heart and Blood Vessel Specialist at EMC Cikarang Hospital).