Non Coronary Interventions In Contemporary Cardiac Practice

SUMMARY Catheter based techniques, whether palliative or corrective, are now the accepted therapy for many congenital cardiac defects. The spectrum of transcatheter procedures has rapidly increased over the last three decades with improving technical skills of the operator combined with sound anatomic and hemodynamic understanding of the patient's condition and the choice of appropriate equipments. In today's pediatric cardiology practice many congenital defects can be treated with balloons used for dilatation of the stenotic valves or vessels combined with the use of various stents for prevention of recurrence of stenosis, some defects can be closed with various devices or coils. With rapidly growing concepts, innovative hardware improvements, development and expertise of interventionalists and surgeons, the application of catheter interventions and hybrid procedures are becoming standard practice. Some of these are practiced in India. Many of them at present are not being practiced in India due to non availability of hardware and the prohibitive cost.