Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 19 Apr 2025
Dr. Mathew Samuel Kalarickal, India’s Father of Angioplasty Passes Away; Here’s How the Procedure Saves Lives of Heart Patients
Dr. Kalarickal performed the country’s first coronary angioplasty in 1986 upon his arrival from the US
Renowned cardiologist Dr. Mathew Samuel Kalarickal - revered as the ‘Father of Angioplasty’ in Inpassed in Chennai at the age of 77. Dr. Kalarickal was instrumental in advancing coronary angioplasty, carotid, and coronary stenting in India.
He was also the founding member of the National Angioplasty Registry of India.
Inspired by the groundbreaking work of Dr. Andreas Grüntzig - credited as the pioneer of angioplasty—Dr. Kalarickal got in touch with him through correspondence and thereafter trained under him in Zurich. Dr. Kalarickal later got an opportunity to conduct advanced research at Emory University in Atlanta, US.
Upon his return in 1986, Dr. Kalarickal performed the country’s first coronary angioplasty. He later also pioneered the use of bio-resorbable stents, which were designed to dissolve naturally in the body after surgery, marking a big innovation in cardiac care. He was also involved in the patents for devices like the electronic algometer and the jugular venous pressure scale.
What is angioplasty?
Being a minimally invasive procedure that opens arteries to let the blood flow easily and freely, angioplasty commonly treats life-threatening issues like atherosclerosis, which forms plaque and cholesterol—leading to deadly heart attacks and strokes.
Angioplasty involves a tiny balloon that pushes plaque through spots that are too narrow or blocked. While considered generally as a safe procedure, angioplasties are now less invasive than other heart and vascular procedures.
Why you may need angioplasty?
You may need angioplasty if you have:
A heart attack
The procedure limits damage to your heart during or right after a heart attack and is also an emergency line of treatment.
Carotid artery disease
While the carotid arteries are in your neck, if left untreated, these blocked arteries can cause a stroke.
Chronic kidney disease
When plaque collects in the arteries in your kidneys, it can affect smooth blood flow and oxygen.
Coronary artery disease
A blocked coronary artery can cause chest pain, which leads to a heart attack.
What happens during an angioplasty?
Doctors say it is an extremely safe procedure, which is conducted in the following steps:
- You change into a medical gown and lie on your back for the procedure. Thereafter you will be administered a sedative through an IV. But you will still be awake enough to follow instructions.
- Also, local anesthesia will be injected to numb the area where access to the artery is sought. Usually, it is done through your groin or arm.
- The doctor would then slide a sheath over the needle and into a large artery and pass wires and catheters through the tube to the artery.
- Once access to the targeted artery is given, a special dye is injected into the tube. Doctors would then look at X-rays to watch the dye go through your artery.
- The provider can find the blockage or narrowing of your artery with the imaging and will cross the problem area with a guide wire. This allows the balloon-tipped catheter to pass over the wire.
- Once across the blockage, the doctor would inflate the balloon.
- The provider will then look at more X-rays to see how much blood flow has improved.
- Usually, a permanent stent is put which is stronger than a balloon.
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