1. Read the following text and do the tasks that follow : Arteries of the heart blocked by plaque can reduce the flow of blood to the heart possibly resulting in heart attack or death. Plaque is…

1. Read the following text and do the tasks that follow :

Arteries of the heart blocked by plaque can reduce the flow of blood to the heart possibly resulting in heart attack or death. Plaque is actually fat and cholesterol that accumulates on the inside of the arteries. The arteries of the heart are small and can be blocked by such accumulations. There is a medical procedure that creates more space in the blocked artery by inserting and inflating a tiny balloon into the blood vessel. It is called coronary balloon angioplasty. Angioplasty means "blood vessel repair". When the balloon is inflated, it compresses the plaque against the wall of the artery, creating more space and improving the flow of blood.

Many doctors choose this technique, because it is less invasive than bypass surgery. Yes, both involve entering the body cavity, but in bypass surgery, the chest must be opened, the ribs must be cut, and the section of diseased artery must be removed and replaced. To replace it, the patient's body is opened, once again, to acquire a healthy section of artery. Usually, this blood vessel is removed from an artery located in the calf of the leg. This means the patient now has two painful incisions that must heal at the same time. There is far more risk in such bypass surgery than in angioplasty, which involves threading a thin tube, called a catheter, into the circulatory system and working it to the damaged artery.

Angioplasty may take between 30 minutes to 3 hours to complete. It begins with a distinctive dye that is injected into the bloodstream. A thin catheter is then inserted into the femoral artery of the leg, near the groin. The doctor monitors the path of the dye using x-rays. He moves the tube through the heart and into the plaque filled artery. He inflates the balloon, creating more space, deflates the balloon, and removes the tube. It is important to note that the plaque has not been removed; it has just been compressed against the sides of the artery. Sometimes, a stent may be implanted, a tiny tube of stainless steel that is expandable when necessary. Its function is to keep the artery open.

There is good news and there is bad news. The good news is that the statistics compiled are superb. Ninety percent of all angioplasty procedures are successful. The risk of dying during an operation of this type is less than 2%. The risk of heart attack is also small: 3-5%. Yet heart surgeons do not take any risk lightly; therefore, a team of surgeons stands ready to perform bypass surgery if needed. The length of hospitalization is only three days. The bad news is twofold. First, this procedure treats the condition but does not eradicate the cause. In 20% of the cases, there is a recurrence of plaque. Second, angioplasty is not recommended for all patients. The surgeons must consider the patient's age, physical history, how severe the blockage is, and, finally, the degree of damage to the artery before they make their determination.

• A. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate words highlighted in the text. Two of them are not necessary. [5×1=5]
  • a. The build up of ......... in the arteries can restrict blood flow and lead to serious heart problems. [1]
  • b. During an ........ procedure, a balloon is inflated to compress plaque against the artery walls. [1]
  • c. A ........... is inserted into the femoral artery to guide the balloon to the blocked vessel. [1]
  • d. A ............ may be implanted after angioplasty to help prevent the artery from closing again. [1]
  • e. Bypass surgery is considered more ......... than angioplasty to help prevent the artery from closing again. [1]
• B. Read the text again and write- TRUE if the statements agree with the information given in the text. FALSE if the statements contradict the information given in the text. NOT GIVEN if there is no information in the text. [5×1=5]
  • a. Heart attack is caused due to the blockage of coronary arteries. [1]
  • b. Doctors prefer bypass surgery to angioplasty for improving the flow C. Answer the following questions. [5×1=5]
• a. What is coronary balloon angioplasty ? [1]
• b. What is the difference between angioplasty and bypass surgery ? [1]
• c. What is a stent ? [1]
• d. How long does it take to complete the coronary balloon angioplasty ? [1]
• e. What should the surgeons consider before performing angioplasty ? [1]