38 Irrawaddy Road #08-51, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore 329563
38 Irrawaddy Road #08-51, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore 329563
A Coronary angioplasty is a procedure to open up blocked blood vessels by inflating a balloon to widen an artery and placing a stent to keep it permanently open. It is usually done manually by highly skilled and qualified cardiac surgeons.
A Robotic Coronary angioplasty is much the same procedure except robotic technology is used to improve outcomes, reduce radiation exposure, enable detailed measurement of blood vessels, and accurate stent placement.
During a Robotic Coronary Angioplasty, X-ray imaging is used to aid cardiologists to track the position of catheters and guide wires along the narrowed blood vessel. The cardiologist does all this while seated in a radiation-shielded station and uses joystick controls to perform the procedure. This allows for better visualisation of the artery and millimetre accuracy to manage the balloon inflation and stent placement for the best possible results.
Advantages of Robotic Coronary Angioplasty
While manual Coronary angioplasty is very much still the default for many clinics, Robot-assisted procedures are fast becoming popular due to the many advantages they bring. Robotic coronary angioplasty improves the placement of artery stents which can lead to better long term outcomes.
There are both pros and cons to opting for Robotic Coronary Angioplasty over manual intervention. Robotic systems are still in early stages of development as compared to manual techniques. Some forms of advanced coronary interventions may also not be supported by Robotic Coronary Angioplasty.
Recovery for patients who have undergone Robotic coronary angioplasty is the same as manual coronary angioplasty. You may be required to stay at the hospital overnight for observation and will be released the next day. You can go back to your normal routine within the week and full recovery should take a few weeks.
Robotic coronary angioplasty is very much similar to traditional angioplasty. You may experience some discomfort as the balloon is inflated and the stent is placed and the symptoms usually resolve soon after.