Almost a year ago, when I wrote a post entitled “Heart of the Matter“, I did not know that the subject would assume so much more significance for me personally, in such a short time.

Last month, when my mother had suffered “acute cardiac failure” – a heart attack – all we could do was rely on the folks in the ICU to help bring her to a stable level.

She spent nearly 10 days in the ICU, but recovered.  Once discharged, she was advised to rest at home for two weeks, after which appropriate investigations and a course of treatment would be explored.

At the next consultation with the cardiologist, we were advised an angiography.

The truth was to hit home soon.  I already knew from earlier readings that “intervention cardiology” was one of the biggest money-spinners in the entire Health industry, across the globe.  I also researched some more and, predictably, discovered that the use of stents is now a very common (and very expensive) course of treatment in most cases involving a non-fatal heart attack.

In Indian terms, each individual stent placed inside the heart would cost around 200,000 rupees.  And, only the cardiologist would be able to decide on how many stents would be necessary in a particular patient – the same cardiologist who would stand to gain significantly in economic terms, if he advised the use of stents!

Even the angiography procedure itself, was not without risk.  After all, we were talking about a 70-year-old woman who weighed 30 kilos, had just spent 10 days in the ICU and had a 20-year history of bronchial asthma and a 3-year history of hypertension.

I’d have to learn the basics of cardiology very quickly, in order to help decide on the best course of action.

What followed is several hours of googling and reading other scientific literature, and numerous consultations with intervention cardiologists of repute… just to determine how we should proceed under the circumstances.

There were so many questions that needed answers: How soon do we need to get the angiography done?  What about other non-invasive options like a Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) or a CT Angiography?  Do we need a Thallium Scan?  If so, should it be done before or after the angio?  If we do need a stent, should it be a medicated one?  Etc. Etc. Etc.

In the end, thanks to all the reading and being able to find a cardiologist within the circle of known friends, we were fortunate to get good advice at the right time.

(If any of you do need to know what I now know on this subject, write to me through this site and I’ll tell you all about it.  Bottom line:  The decision needs to be your’s.  And, you need to know a bit about all this, to make an informed one!)

The coronary angiography was scheduled a few weeks ago, and the good doctor found all major arteries clear of any blockages.

There would be no other need for any intervention, for the time being.  She would go home to make a full recovery.

Read More :

Drug Eluting Stent Overview – Angioplasty.Org
Drug-eluting stents: Do they increase heart attack risk? – MayoClinic.com