Stenting in Israel

Dr. Itzhak Kori

Head of the Angiography Department

Top Ichilov is one of the most advanced clinics in Israel, where patients can receive highly qualified medical care for any disease. In particular, first-class angi surgeons work here, capable of successfully treating atherosclerosis and its associated cardiological pathologies. They use the most progressive technologies in endovascular surgery, allowing for the restoration of normal blood flow in vessels without a single incision and with the most durable results. Most often, this involves stenting.

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5000

foreign patients are treated annually at Top Ichilov clinic

82%

successful cases of treatment with conservative methods

24

-hour support in Russian

Table of Contents

Methods

Stages

Prices

Compared to other methods of surgical treatment for atherosclerosis, this procedure has many advantages. These include minimal invasiveness, no blood loss, and very short recovery times. An additional benefit is that at the Top Ichilov Medical Center, it is performed using next-generation stents, which not only effectively eliminate stenosis but also release a drug over a certain period to prevent re-occlusion of the vessel. Thanks to all this, patients quickly return to a fully active life and long forget about any problems with the cardiovascular system.

Indications for Stenting

Under the influence of a number of provoking factors, atherosclerotic plaques can form on the inner surfaces of blood vessel walls, which can eventually lead to stenosis of the affected artery and a significant deterioration in the quality of life, up to a fatal outcome. While atherosclerosis was considered primarily a condition of elderly patients just a few decades ago, today, this disease is increasingly encountered in relatively young people. Various vessels can be affected, with coronary arteries, the aorta, and vessels of the brain, neck, and lower extremities being the most commonly involved.

Depending on the stage of atherosclerosis progression, Israeli specialists apply different approaches to its treatment. In the early stages, conservative therapy methods are generally used. If these prove ineffective or the disease is diagnosed at a stage where the vessel lumen is blocked by more than 50%, this becomes a direct indication for surgical intervention.

Here is the main list of diseases for which stenting may be performed:

• atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries;
• ischemic heart disease;
• myocardial infarction;
• angina;
• aortic aneurysm;
• cerebral atherosclerosis (damage to the brain vessels);
• aneurysm of the brain vessels;
• obliterating atherosclerosis (stenosis of the arteries of the lower extremities).

In any case, before assigning stenting to a patient, the doctors at Top Ichilov conduct a comprehensive preoperative examination. This includes procedures such as ECG, echocardiography, ultrasound Dopplerography, coronary angiography, and others. Based on their results, doctors assess the condition of the vessels, determine the degree of blockage, and then develop the most optimal plan for addressing the pathology.

How Stenting is Performed in Israel

The essence of the procedure is the implantation of a special mesh framework into the stenosed section of the blood vessel, restoring its normal patency and preventing re-narrowing. At Top Ichilov, stents of various types are used. They differ in material, shape, length, diameter, coating type, and installation method. The specific type of stent for each patient is selected individually, depending on their age, overall health, nature of the pathology, and other factors.

• Metallic. Most often made from stainless medical steel or metal alloys (for example, cobalt-chromium). In addition to advantages such as good biocompatibility, reliable fixation inside the vessel, and relatively low cost, they also have disadvantages. Primarily, there are increased risks of thrombosis in the first few weeks after the procedure and the possibility of restenosis in the future. For this reason, doctors at Top Ichilov sometimes prefer to use other designs as alternatives to metallic stents.
• Bioabsorbable. One of the most innovative developments in endovascular surgery. Bioabsorbable stents are made from special materials that can dissolve over time and be naturally expelled from the body. The achieved effect is not lost – because the implanted stent additionally releases a drug that prevents re-narrowing of the artery, the risks of restenosis (at least in the coming years) are reduced to almost zero.
• Drug-coated stents. Can be made from both metal alloys and biodegradable materials. The main advantage of installing drug-coated stents lies in their anti-proliferative action. They suppress the processes of deposition of atherosclerotic plaques on the vascular walls and thus provide the longest possible effect.

Since stenting is performed using a minimally invasive endovascular method, it is practically discomfort-free for patients. Given that the procedure lasts no more than 30-60 minutes and does not require general anesthesia, recovery takes just a few hours, and typically, the patient is discharged from the clinic on the same day or the next day.

Taking the example of how stenting of the heart vessels is performed in Israel, the following stages of the operation can be highlighted:

• Performing angiography. A control X-ray contrast study of the affected vessels is necessary to clarify the localization of stenosis areas and ensure maximum accuracy of medical manipulations.
• Catheter insertion. The doctor makes a small puncture in the radial or femoral artery and advances the stent to the pathological focus through it.
• Stent installation. After reaching the blocked section of the vessel with the catheter, the doctor performs the stent implantation. Depending on the installation type, the designs can be either self-expanding or expanded using a balloon. In most cases, stenting is performed in combination with balloon angioplasty. First, doctors restore vessel patency by compressing atherosclerotic plaques by inflating a balloon, and then "embed" the framework into the vessel walls, which secures the achieved effect and ensures its stability in the future.
• Catheter removal and completion of the operation. Since the procedure does not involve any incisions or bleeding, the patient simply has a bandage applied to the puncture site, and after assessing the effectiveness of the stenting performed and ruling out complications, they are allowed to leave the clinic.

How Much Does Stenting Cost in Israel

Advantages of Stenting at Top Ichilov

• Highly qualified specialists with many years of practical experience.
• The use of the most advanced technologies in endovascular surgery, characterized by maximum effectiveness and safety.
• Maximum durable results – next-generation stents used in the clinic last much longer.
• Clear benefits – the price of stenting in Israel is 25-45% lower than in Germany or the USA.
• Professional assistance in solving all organizational and logistical issues.

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