Q. What is biochemical angioplasty? How preferable it is?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Biochemical angioplasty is a medical procedure which is used to treat narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, usually caused by fatty deposits known as plaque. Using biochemical agents such as enzymes and other proteins, the plaque can be broken down and dissolved. This can be done without the need for surgical intervention or placement of a stent to keep the artery open.
The advantages of biochemical angioplasty are manifold: it's relatively inexpensive compared to traditional methods; it typically has fewer risks than traditional angioplasty; there's no need for general anesthesia; recovery time is much shorter than with surgery; there's less scarring as well. In certain cases in which a section of artery needs to be widened, chemical agents may also be able to do that job instead of having to surgically insert a metal stent.
Studies have shown that biochemical angioplasty can provide beneficial results in treating coronary artery disease without any serious side effects or complications. One study from 2001 found that 97 percent of patients who underwent biochemical angioplasty experienced some degree of success in reducing blockages within their arteries - far exceeding the success rate achieved with traditional methods like coronary bypass surgery and balloon angioplasty (which resulted in successful reduction rates at 91 percent and 83 percent respectively).
Overall, depending on the individual case, biochemical angioplasty can offer an attractive option compared to more invasive procedures such as bypasses and balloon dilation when treating sclerotic lesions due its minimally invasive nature, cost-effectiveness and excellent success rate - making this procedure one that should definitely not be overlooked when considering treatment options!