With the increasing incidence of coronary artery disease in the current era, there has been an urgent need for a heart stent (mesh) to widen narrowed arteries so that blood can reach the heart well.
The heart stent operation in Turkey is one of the very common operations, and it may be one of the most common cardiovascular surgeries performed in Turkey. Older adults, especially smokers, often suffer from the problem of narrowing of the heart’s arteries, which causes them several symptoms, most notably angina pectoris and shortness of breath, which necessitates An operation through which a small stent is placed to widen the narrowed artery and relieve these symptoms before the patient's condition worsens and he needs an open-heart surgery for treatment.
You may have several questions about how coronary stent surgery is it done, what is the surgery's success rate, and how useful is it in relieving your symptoms? Read this article to answer all these questions and learn everything you want about coronary stent surgery in Turkey.
How is a heart stent installed in Türkiye?
Stent is a metal device with the shape of a small tube placed inside the blocked artery to widen it. The installation of a coronary stent takes place through a surgery known as coronary artery catheterization , whichis performed by inserting a long tube through the vessels of the leg or hand until this tube reaches the arteries of the heart; the catheter tube is directed with the help of X-rays so that the doctor can get to the coronary arteries of the heart and then installs the stent inside the narrowed artery by expanding it with a balloon to keep it open until the stent is placed.
The heart stent improves blood flow, which relieves symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain, in addition to that the stent reduces the risk of sudden cardiac arrest (thrombosis) and usually prevents the return of narrowing of the artery again, you can contact our medical team if you have any questions About cardiac stenting and to guide you to the best cardiac surgeons in Turkey.
Causes for coronary stent surgery
The primary function of the stent is to keep the coronary arteries open so that the blood can pass through them well. Every disease or problem that leads to blockage and narrowing of one of these arteries is one of the reasons for installing coronary stents.
The narrowing of the heart arteries is known as “coronary artery disease.” This disease affects more than 200 million people worldwide and is the third most common cause of death. Unfortunately, the incidence of this disease increases over time for many reasons related to the unhealthy lifestyle that we live today.
Let's mention together the most important reasons that require the installation of the stent:
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is an accumulation of fatty plaques within the walls of blood vessels, which leads to narrowing and blockage of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of coronary artery disease. Risk factors have been developed that increase the risk of an individual suffering from atherosclerosis, including high levels of lipids in the blood, smoking, High blood pressureDiabetes mellitus, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, eating an unhealthy diet and having a family history of Atherosclerosis.
Heart attack
A heart attack occurs due to insufficient blood reaching the heart, which causes an infarction in one of the parts of the heart muscle. Angioplasty and coronary stenting help restore normal blood flow and expand the diameter of the arterial blood vessel, reducing the risk of a sudden heart attack.
Types of heart stents in Türkiye
The heart stent is somewhat similar to the net used in fishing, except that the stent is made of a metallic material. Coronary stents have two main types:
Bare metal coronary stents
This type of stent is made of titanium resistant to rust, as it expands the narrowed arteries by placing them in their appropriate place.
Drug-eluting stents
This stent is similar to the previous type in terms of the materials it is made of. Still, the only difference from the last type is that it is coated with restorative materials that help prevent the narrowing of the arteries again.
Benefits of heart stent surgery
There are many benefits and benefits that heart stenting can provide to patients, including:
- Ensuring proper blood flow through the arteries of the heart
- Reducing the severity of symptoms experienced by heart patients (such as shortness of breath and angina)
- Improving the quality of life
- A minimally invasive, low-risk procedure performed through a catheter without the need for open surgery
- Stents may be an alternative to Coronary artery bypass surgery that need open heart surgery
Heart stent damage
It is rare for heart stents to be associated with damages or risks of concern, but we cannot completely rule out some complications that may occur, including:
- A blood clot forms inside the stent
- Body rejection to stent placement
- The arterial vessel in which the stent was placed was ruptured
- Failure to install a heart stent
- Heavy bleeding
- Stroke
- The artery get narrow again
Post-operative heart stent installation in Türkiye
Although heart stents are an effective way to improve symptoms, stent placement is not a cure for heart disease. You must follow your doctor's instructions and make healthy adjustments to your lifestyle while taking the medications he will prescribe for you after the surgery.
You usually stay in the hospital after coronary stent surgery For one day only, monitor your heart's health and ensure the procedure's success and that it is free of any potential complications. You can return to your daily routine activities after a week of the surgery while avoiding carrying heavy weights and doing strenuous activities during the first week after the stents are installed.
You may feel slight pain with swelling and discomfort in the chest immediately after the surgery. Do not worry; this is normal and may take a few days to pass by itself. You will notice that your chest pain has started to subside gradually and that your physical activity has improved after having the brace installed. You will be able to exercise more efficiently.
The doctor may prescribe a group of medications, such as blood thinners and anticoagulants, for a period extending from 6 months to a year after the surgery. It is necessary to take the medications according to the specialist’s instructions.
You may be asked to stop having sex after stenting for a temporary period depending on the health of your heart and its ability to withstand strenuous activities such as sex. This period may extend from a few days to several weeks. Ask Your doctor about how long it takes to abstain from sexual intercourse.
Success rate of coronary stent surgery
Coronary stenting has a high success rate and a low risk of side complications. A study was performed on 197 patients over the age of 80 years, and the success rate of the surgery was estimated at 95%.
The incidence of complications during the recovery time was very low. The same study indicated that the mortality rate during the postoperative phase did not exceed 3%, considering the patients were over 80 years old. Some of them were suffering from other diseases.
We conclude that this procedure is somewhat safe even when it is performed after the age of 80, the complications resulting from it are rare, and it gives good results in the long run.
Coronary stent prices in Turkey 2023
The cost of coronary stent varies Depending on the type and number of stents needed for the operation, the cost usually starts from $800 and may reach $7,000 in some cases. You can contact us to request more details about the types of heart stents and their prices in Turkey and to book an appointment for you with the best experienced doctors.
The price of a coronary stent is still much lower than openHeart surgery, Coronary stents are less dangerous than open surgery, so you should not delay your coronary stenting for fear of worsening artery blockage, which may require open heart surgery to fix it.
In conclusion, the heart stent operation in Turkey is a suitable treatment for the condition of narrowing of the coronary arteries, which is associated with disturbing symptoms that affect the quality of life, such as shortness of breath and angina. The stent operation gives good results without the presence of great risks of side effects. Several types of stents are available, each with a special price. In it, coronary artery stenting is done by catheterization, which is considered a safe, minimally invasive procedure that usually takes no more than two hours, and the recovery period after stent installation does not exceed more than a week in normal cases.
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