What is Coronary Angioplasty?
Coronary angioplasty is a procedure to open blocked arteries and restore normal blood flow to your heart muscle.
What is a Stent? What is Stenting?
A stent is a tiny, metal or plastic mesh tube that is placed permanently inside a blood vessel to relieve an obstruction. The procedure of inserting and placing the stent within your arterial wall through a small tube (catheter) is known as stenting.
When and Why do You Need Angioplasty and Stenting?
You may need angioplasty and stenting when your:
- Artery blockage is severe and your heart condition is serious
- Medications or lifestyle changes have not improved your condition
- You have experienced a heart attack
Angioplasty is more often combined with stenting. After your blocked arteries are treated with angioplasty, there is a possibility of them getting blocked again (restenosis). Stenting helps keep the arteries open and decrease the chances of narrowing or blocking again.
Preparing You for the Procedure
Prior to the procedure, your doctor will evaluate your medical history and perform a detailed physical examination. A chest X-ray, an electrocardiogram (to record heartbeat) and necessary blood tests may be carried out. Subsequently, an imaging test (coronary angiogram) to locate the blockages is also performed.
Your doctor will instruct you to stop taking certain medications such as for diabetes before the procedure.
Magmaris Resorbable Magnesium Scaffold
Magmaris resorbable magnesium scaffold (MRMS) is a sirolimus-eluting stent used in the treatment of coronary artery diseases such as artery blockage (restenosis). Sirolimus-eluting stent is a metal stent coated with 140 micro g/cm (2) of sirolimus that is blended with synthetic polymers.
MRMS comes with electropolished rounded edges and a smooth surface. It is a balloon-expandable bioresorbable metallic scaffold, mounted on a rapid-exchange delivery system. MRMS, with its robust Magnesium backbone, is indicated for coronary artery lesions that have not been previously treated with angioplasty or stenting.
The Procedure
Angioplasty:
Angioplasty is usually done through an artery in your groin (the area between the abdomen and the upper thigh) and occasionally in your arm, wrist or leg area. Before the procedure, the insertion area is sterilized with an antiseptic solution.
Once you are ready for the procedure, your doctor will:
- Take you to the procedure room and place small electrode pads on your chest.
- Inject local anesthesia to the spot where a small tube (catheter) will be inserted.
- Make a small incision at the spot and guide the catheter through the arterial system.
- Ensure the catheter reaches the blockage spot in the affected artery.
- Pass a thin, expandable balloon on the end of this catheter to the blockage spot.
- Inflate the balloon to make the blocked artery stretch, widen and open.
- Deflate and remove the balloon to make sure the blood flows easily through the artery.
Stenting with MRMS
Following angioplasty, your doctor will:
- Take an MRMS stent and mount it on an inflated balloon at the tip of the catheter.
- Direct and move the stent over the guidewire through the artery to the blockage.
- Ensure the balloon opens the MRMS stent and expands it at the blockage.
- Once the stent is in place, remove the balloon and the catheter from the artery.
The whole procedure may take several hours, depending on the number of blockages and other complications. Your doctor may have to repeat the procedure at each blockage if you have several blockages.
After Care and Recovery
Post the procedure, you may need medications and additional care as prescribed by your doctor. It may take you a week before you return to your normal routine.
Benefits of MRMS
MRMS brings most of the benefits that only a metallic scaffold can offer. They include:
- Reduced long-term complications such as stent fracture, in-stent restenosis and late stent thrombosis (clotting)
- Long-term safety and efficiency with fast resorption (absorption into tissues) time of around 12 months
- Feasible option while dealing with complex artery issues; Better durability and deliverability
From a safety perspective, MRMS has been very impressive with:
- A total absence of stent thrombosis at 12 months
- A low rate of target lesion failure (TLF) in six months
- No additional TLF between six and 12 months
