Lucknow: The cardiology department of KGMU on Monday introduced a latest technology that can trace blockages and spasms in small vessels of the heart that often remain undetected during angiography.Doctors claimed that the KGMU is the first in the state to adopt the Coroventis System for the treatment of patients suffering from a condition called INOCA (Ischemia with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries). In this condition, undetected blockages and spasms in heart vessels cause chest pain. Around 150-200 such patients come to KGMU every month. So far, doctors used to prescribe pain killers and other treatment procedures, but now using the new system, they can treat patients more effectively. This ailment is mainly found in women and diabetic persons. The machine costs around 40 lakh and is currently available at only six centres in India. Head, cardiology department, Prof Rishi Sethi said the new treatment would cost a patient around Rs 40,000. “After detecting blockages and spasms in vessels through a wire, medicines are used for treatment unlike angioplasty in which stenting is done to remove blockages in big arteries,” Dr Sethi said. The system is also useful after a heart attack, as it helps doctors evaluate whether blood flow at the smaller vessel level is adequate for proper recovery. On Monday, four procedures were conducted under the guidance of visiting expert Dr Ludovica Maltese from Milan, Italy.
