Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a common and serious cardiovascular condition caused by narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries. In addition to basic pharmacological treatments, revascularization therapy remains the most effective approach to relieve angina, prolong life, and save lives.
Revascularization includes interventional stent therapy and surgical bypass grafting. The choice between these methods depends on the patient’s clinical condition and coronary lesion characteristics. Generally:
- If stenosis in the ischemic-related artery is less than 70% with no clinical evidence of myocardial ischemia, conservative medical treatment suffices with favorable short- and long-term outcomes.
- If stenosis exceeds 70% with confirmed myocardial ischemia, revascularization significantly outperforms medical therapy in alleviating symptoms and improving prognosis.
Interventional stent therapy involves catheter insertion via the radial artery (wrist) or femoral artery (groin). After angiography, the need for stent placement is determined. For severe stenosis, balloon dilation is typically performed first, followed by stent implantation. Balloon dilation alone risks rapid vessel re-occlusion, worsening the condition.
Recent clinical trials have validated the efficacy of stent implantation. Most procedures are now performed under local anesthesia via the radial artery. Over 99% of balloon-dilated lesions receive stents, making this technique a cornerstone of CHD treatment.
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