What is angioplasty?
Angioplasty is a procedure in which your healthcare provider
inserts a balloon catheter into a blocked artery to unblock the
artery. The blocked artery may be anywhere in the body. If the
blocked artery is a blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart,
the procedure is called percutaneous coronary intervention,
coronary angioplasty, or percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty (PTCA).
When is it used?
Arteries can become blocked or narrowed by plaque. Plaque is a
buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances on the inside
walls of the arteries.
Angioplasty is used to treat symptoms caused by:
- coronary artery disease (narrowing or blockage of the arteries
that supply blood to the heart)
- peripheral vascular disease (blocked arteries supplying blood
to the limbs, especially the legs)
- carotid artery disease (narrowing or blockage of the arteries
in your neck.)
- renovascular disease (narrowing or blockage of the arteries
going to the kidneys).
Coronary angioplasty may be done during a heart attack to reduce
heart muscle damage from the heart attack.
How do I prepare for angioplasty?
- Talk with your healthcare provider about what medicines you
should take before the procedure. Your healthcare provider may
prescribe medicine to prevent blood clots from forming during
the procedure. If you are taking daily aspirin for a medical
condition, ask your provider if you need to stop taking it
before your surgery.
- Plan for your care and transportation after the procedure and
during recovery at home.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you have had any kidney
problems or reactions to iodine-containing foods or chemicals,
such as seafood or X-ray contrast dye.
- Before the procedure, your healthcare provider will ask you to
sign a consent form for angioplasty and angiography.
(Angiography is an X-ray study of the blood vessels using
dye.)
- Your healthcare provider will ask you not to eat or drink
anything after midnight on the night before the procedure.
- You may have blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and a
chest X-ray before the procedure.
What happens during the procedure?
You will be given medicine to help you relax and a local
anesthetic to numb the place where the catheter will be inserted.
You will stay awake during the procedure.
Someone at the hospital will shave and wash the area where the
catheter will be inserted (arm or groin) to help prevent
infection. Your healthcare provider will put a catheter into a
blood vessel in your arm or groin. A catheter is a very thin,
flexible tube. Using X-rays, the healthcare provider moves the
catheter to the blocked artery. A thin wire is guided through the
tube into the narrowed blood vessel. Another catheter is advanced
over the wire. This second catheter has a deflated balloon at its
tip.
When the balloon reaches the narrow part of the artery, the
healthcare provider inflates the balloon. Inflating the balloon
stretches the narrowed artery.
The healthcare provider then deflates the balloon and removes the
catheters and balloon. The stretching of the artery greatly
improves blood flow through the artery. Often a metal mesh device
called a stent is left in the artery to improve chances that the
blood vessel will stay open.
What happens after the procedure?
You will go back to your hospital room and rest in bed for a few
hours. You will most likely be able to go home the next day. In
some cases, you may be able to go home the day you have the
procedure. You can usually go back to your normal activities
within a day or two.
Angioplasty is successful over 95% of the time. However, there are
times when the balloon cannot enter the severely narrowed artery.
Also, sometimes the narrowed or blocked artery will not widen.
People with successful angioplasty have good long-term results.
Your arteries may narrow again and may need angioplasty again. If
this happens, it usually happens within 6 months after the first
procedure.
What are the benefits of this procedure?
- Angioplasty can restore blood flow in the artery without major
surgery.
- The procedure can be performed without using general
anesthesia.
What are the risks of this procedure?
- You may have an allergic reaction to the local anesthetic or
X-ray dye.
- You may bleed a lot and need medicine or a blood transfusion.
- The artery may be damaged. For example, the catheter might
poke a hole in the artery during the procedure. Emergency
surgery or repair of the hole would then be needed.
- There is a risk of injury to the groin or arm where the
catheter was inserted.
- The blockage may come back after 3 to 6 months.
- The procedure could cause a stroke.
There is risk with every treatment or procedure. Talk to your
provider for complete information about how the risks apply to
you.
How can I take care of myself?
- Do not smoke.
- Eat a healthy diet that is low in fat and cholesterol.
- Exercise according to your healthcare provider's
recommendation.
- Keep your appointment for your scheduled post-discharge office
visit.
When should I call my healthcare provider?
Call your provider right away if:
- You have chest pain.
- You have constant or worsening pain or numbness in your arm or
leg.
- You have a fever.
- You have shortness of breath.
- Your arm or leg becomes blue and cold.
- You have bleeding, excess bruising, or a lot of swelling where
the catheter was inserted.
Call during office hours if:
- You have questions about the procedure or its result.
- You want to make another appointment.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
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