Info Nuggets

Heart matters: Angioplasty vs Bypass surgery

Ravneet Kaur

TNS

Chandigarh, Updated At : 02:08 PM Jun 28, 2025 IST

Stent angioplasty

Blocked arteries, different solutions

Context: General Studies Paper III – Science and Technology; Internal Security and Disaster Management (health infrastructure); also useful in Ethics (case studies involving public health)

1. Definition and procedure

Aspect	Angioplasty	Bypass surgery
Definition	A minimally invasive procedure to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries.	A major surgery to create an alternate path for blood to flow around a blocked artery.
Procedure	A balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into the narrowed artery; often a stent is placed.	A healthy blood vessel (from the leg, arm, or chest) is grafted to bypass the blocked coronary artery.

2. Invasiveness and Recovery

Aspect	Angioplasty	Bypass surgery
Invasiveness	Minimally invasive (done via catheter through groin or wrist).	Highly invasive (requires opening of the chest and heart-lung machine).
Recovery Time	Short (days to a week).	Longer (4–6 weeks or more).

3. Suitability and Risk

Aspect	Angioplasty	Bypass surgery
Best For	1–2 artery blockages, especially if localized.	Multiple blockages or diabetic patients with diffuse disease.
Risk	Lower short-term risk; may need repeat procedures.	Higher short-term risk; longer-term solution.

4. Cost and accessibility in India

Angioplasty is more widely available in urban healthcare settings and can be performed quickly.
Bypass surgery is resource-intensive, requiring specialized cardiothoracic surgery teams and ICU support.

5. Policy relevance

Schemes like Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY include both procedures.
Expansion of non-communicable disease (NCD) care infrastructure is crucial to reduce cardiovascular mortality.
The role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and medical technology indigenisation is central.

Short questions (Prelims/GS Mains One-Liners)

What is the purpose of a stent in angioplasty?
Which type of surgery involves creating a graft to bypass blocked arteries?
Name a national health scheme in India that covers cardiac surgeries.

Long questions (GS Mains)

Compare and contrast angioplasty and bypass surgery in terms of procedure, cost, and suitability.
What are the challenges in delivering advanced cardiac care in rural India? Suggest measures to bridge the gap.

Analytical/case-based questions (GS/Essay/Ethics)

“While technology offers life-saving cardiac interventions, equitable access remains a challenge.” Discuss this in the context of rural-urban health disparity.
Suppose a government hospital has limited resources and must choose between angioplasty and bypass surgery for a patient. How should such decisions be ethically and medically guided?

Info Nuggets

Ravneet Kaur

TNS

Blocked arteries, different solutions

Short questions (Prelims/GS Mains One-Liners)

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