New Delhi, June 04th 2025: Ujala Cygnus Brightstar Hospital, Moradabad, has successfully performed the region’s first FFR (Fractional Flow Reserve)-guided angioplasty, marking a major breakthrough in cardiac care for the Moradabad and Kumaon regions.
The patient, a 56-year-old resident of Harthala, Moradabad, was rushed to the hospital’s emergency department on the morning of May 7, 2025, with complaints of severe chest pain (a condition medically referred to as rest angina). Notably, the patient had a prior history of angioplasty during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 at a private hospital.
Recently, he experienced recurrent chest pain and underwent another coronary angiography, which showed borderline blockages in two major arteries. At that time, the treating doctors advised only medication, stating that stenting (a procedure to open blocked arteries) was not needed. However, the patient continued to suffer from persistent chest discomfort over the following weeks.
In search of clarity and relief, he returned to the hospital where he was initially treated and underwent a second round of angiography. Yet again, the doctors recommended against stenting. Frustrated and concerned, the patient considered travelling to Delhi for further treatment. It was then that a friend informed him that Senior Interventional Cardiologist Dr (Prof) Sundeep Mishra who earlier worked at AIIMS was now available at Ujala Cygnus Brightstar Hospital, Moradabad.
Dr. Mishra thoroughly reviewed the patient’s previous angiography reports and, noticing a mismatch between clinical symptoms and imaging results, recommended an FFR test. He conducted advanced diagnostic test for the very first time in the Moradabad and Kumaon region, ed by Dr. Pankaj Kumar, Interventional Cardiologist and cath lab technician Mr. Indresh Kumar.
What is FFR?
Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is a modern diagnostic tool used during coronary angiography to measure blood flow and determine the significance of artery blockages. Unlike traditional angiography, which only shows the extent of narrowing in the arteries, FFR measures the pressure difference across a blockage to assess whether it is actually restricting blood flow. An FFR value of 0.80 or less typically indicates the need for stenting.
In this case, the FFR test revealed that one artery did not require stenting, while another had a functionally significant blockage. Guided by this evidence-based approach, the cardiology team successfully placed a stent only in the severely blocked artery. The patient recovered well and was discharged in a stable condition.
This pioneering use of FFR at Ujala Cygnus Brightstar Hospital sets a new benchmark for precision cardiac care in the region. It ensures that treatment decisions are guided by accurate data rather than relying solely on conventional imaging. The hospital’s initiative reflects its commitment to bringing the most advanced and responsible cardiac care to patients in tier-2 cities like Moradabad.
