Angioplasty

How is angioplasty performed? 

The procedure is performed with local anesthesia and mediactions for relaxation during surgery. Our doctors must first perform  cardiac catheterization followed by numbing the site where the catheter will be inserted. It is typical to insert the catheter in the groin area or in your arm. The catheter is passed via a thin plastic tube, guided to the blood vessels where finally it will reach the arteries surrounding the heart.  Once it reaches the heart,  a medical contrast material is injected and  photographed with an X-ray while it is moving through the chambers of the major vessels and valves.  This process will notify our team if the heart valves are working properly or if you have narrow coronary arteries.  It is here when the decision to perform angioplasty takes place. If the decision is to proceed with an interventional procedure to solve the issue,  there can be several interventions that we can perform but this will depend on what our team see during the surgery. The most common is with artery  ballon and stent  that take placement in order to accomplish successful results. The angioplasty ballon, is a specially designed catheter with a small ballon  that assists in inflating the artery wall to increase blood flow to the heart. A small metal tube called a stent supports this arterial widening permanently inside the coronary. Once the stent is placed, the ballon is removed completely. During the first week, the artery will heal around the stent. The stents purpose is to permanently keep the artery open therefore reducing the possibility that an artery blockage can take place.  Once the stent is successfully placed and everything is clear, the procedure is complete. Another intervention could be one called Atherectomy, which consists of a hollow cylinder on the tip with an open window on one side and a balloon on the other. Once the catheter is inserted into the narrow artery, the ballon is inflated, pushing the window against the fatty matter only to shave off the blocking areas. Once the surgery is complete  you will recover in the recovery room for several hours prior to proceeding to your private hospital room for 24 hours of survailence.  

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Depending on the type of insertion that was done for the catheter ( through the groin or arm ), you will either have to lay down  flat on the bed ( if through the groin ) or sit up straight ( if through the arm ). You will have to stay away from food and liquids for at least the next 8 hours post surgery. It is normal to feel a bit weak and dizzy after surgery but our nursing staff will help you through the process. If a stent was placed during angioplasty procedure, you will be required to take a medication to reduce the possibility of a blood cloth. You should not excersise after angioplasty surgery for the first week but you must gradually increase your physical activities. You should be able to go back to your normal activities after several weeks post surgery.