I suffered heart attack on 25th December and the clot was removed by the medicine Urokinase. After 5 days I was discharged. After one month Angiogram was done and a block was detected in an artery near LAD which is 95%. Doctors say that urgent PTCA has to be done. Can the block be removed only by medicines. Also after PTCA how much improvement of heart functioning is possible. Present ejection fraction is 25 to 30%.
2007-02-02 21:45:54 · 7 answers · asked by mudumbai 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
the clot was dissolved by urokinase, its an enzyme that can cause lysis of bllod clots, unfortunately, your LAD is blocked by a plaque, most probably a cholesterol plaque... and urokinase cannot dissolve it ( no drug can dissolve it )... if the stent can be inserted and with proper cardiac rehab... your ejection fraction will return to normal...
2007-02-02 22:26:45 · answer #1 · answered by Clive Roland 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Urokinase is an enzyme that dissolves clots. The blockage that is there now cannot be removed by medicines. PTCA is a procedure that will press the blockage against the sides of the artery. PTCA uses a balloon only; it is usually used alongside a stent; a "fence" that holds the blockage against the walls.
Improvement of the heart function will usually not happen; the idea is to stop more damage. The damage is caused by lack of blood flow; if your artery is 95% blocked, you are not getting enough blood to the heart muscle. If the artery closes completely, you will lose the muscle completely.
The procedure itself is not that bad, from your point of view. You will go to a VERY cold room, where they will cover you with warm blankets. They will connect you to machines so they can watch your heart rhythm, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. They will give you some medicine that will make you woozy and not care what is going on. You may or may not feel the numbing medicine in your groin...the sting will last about 10-15 seconds. Then you will feel pressure. You may or may not feel a warm flush with one picture, that will go throughout your body. When they open the artery, you may have some chest pain. The best part is...you won't remember any of it!
Go have it done...you won't be sorry.
2007-02-03 06:18:56 · answer #2 · answered by janejane 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blocked Lad Artery
2016-12-14 18:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by pariasca 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The doctor is not necessarily correct.
YES, you need to have the PTCA. (no meds will work)
Your ejection fraction is quite low. Post PTCA, there may be SOME improvement in your EF. With proper medical treatment there may be SOME improvement in your EF.
The drop in your EF is due to the heart attack. How much your EF improves depends mainly on how much heart tissue died from the heart attack and how much was just "stunned"
Having said that, proper medical therapy post-PTCA.can help you live a pretty comfortable life.
Interesting side note, I' not sure where you live, but it's definitely different medicine from the US. Here, if you lived near a major hospital, you would have gotten PTCA within 24 hours. Urokinase is almost never used. Newer agents (safer, better, but more $$$) are used if the patient lives more than an hour away from a PTCA hospital.
2007-02-02 23:10:51 · answer #4 · answered by ckm1956 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The left anterior descending artery is a branch of the left coronary, and if there is a block near it, the block has to be in the left coronary. That makes it serious, and immediate surgery is indicated. It can stop further damage, but not repair damage already done.
2007-02-03 06:14:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
putting a stent ( a small pipe inside the blocked artery) is the best solution. Medicines wont be able to open up the block. Balloon angioplasty is another option, byut stenting is much better
2007-02-03 01:36:54 · answer #6 · answered by mpact 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi buddy. Your dad can be given thrombolytics, which dissolves clots, and anticoagulants, which help prevent clots. I do not know any uhm, alternative meds for that but tell him to avoid foods high in Vitamin K like dark green leafy veggies cause Vitamin K is known for blood clotting and we wouldn't want much of that
2016-03-15 04:59:18 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋