Heart Angioplasty and Stent Placement

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

What is angioplasty?

Also known as Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), Angioplasty is a procedure used to open blocked or narrowed blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. The procedure uses a catheter (a long, thin tube) inserted into an artery or vein in the arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck. 

Angioplasty may also be used with stenting as part of treatment for various types of vascular disease, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

The catheter is guided through an artery until it reaches the coronary artery’s narrowed or blocked area. A tiny balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated to compress the blockage against your artery wall. 

Angioplasty stent helps restores normal blood flow through your coronary artery and improves oxygen delivery to your heart muscle.

Why might I need angioplasty?

Angioplasty aims to reopen the blood vessel after it has been blocked by plaque. Plaque is a combination of fat, calcium and other substances that builds up on the inner walls of your arteries. 

When you have plaque buildup in your blood vessels, it can narrow or even close them off completely, causing pain and tissue damage throughout the body.

You may need this procedure if you have:

• A blockage in one or more of your coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of MI (myocardial infarction) and heart attacks.
• Chest pain (the most common symptom of CAD), including:
• Tightness or heaviness in your chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
• Pain or pressure in your shoulder(s), arm(s), back, neck, jaw or stomach.

How do doctors diagnose blocked arteries?

If you have blocked arteries, your doctor will likely perform various tests to diagnose it. These include an angiogram and stress test.

An angiogram involves inserting the catheter into an artery and guiding it through the blood vessels until it reaches the heart. The doctor can inject dyes into the coronary arteries to see how well they function.

The catheter is also placed into a vein on your wrist or arm and then guided up through those blood vessels into your heart. A normal coronary artery should allow more dye to enter after administering a medication that relaxes your arteries (like nitroglycerin).

If there is a blockage in one or more coronary arteries, less dye will be able to pass through them and get into your heart muscle; this shows up as bright white areas on X-rays taken during the procedure.

A stress test uses exercise or drugs like adenosine (a medicine used for chest pain) to make sure that parts of your body work properly during physical activity before surgery—this helps doctors decide what kind of procedure would be best for you depending on how well everything works together once they open those blocked veins!

What happens before angioplasty stent placement?

Before your procedure, you should:

• Get a checkup. Your doctor will discuss your medical history and make sure you are physically ready to have an angioplasty stent. 
• You may need to stop taking certain medications before your angioplasty or stent placement. This can help reduce complications during the procedure and afterwards.
• Ask questions. If you have questions about what to expect during the procedure or what happens next, ask them! 
• Your doctor and other healthcare team members are there to answer any concerns that come up before, during, and after your treatment plan has been developed for you.
• Make sure you understand the procedure being done on you.
• Ensure to get treatment at a reputed hospital from the best angioplasty doctor.
• Make sure that it’s actually going to be performed by a qualified individual (i.e., not just anyone with a stent-placement toolkit).

How should I prepare for the angioplasty procedure?

Before your procedure, it is important to discuss the procedure with your doctor. The risks of the procedure should be discussed as well as its benefits. This will help you understand if this type of treatment would benefit you and what kind of results you can expect.

If you decide to have a heart angioplasty and stent placement, please ensure that all medications your doctor prescribed are taken on time before surgery. 

You may also need to stop smoking or drinking alcohol for several days before surgery since these things may affect how well anaesthesia works during surgery.

What Happens During the Angioplasty Stent Procedure?

Angioplasty allows a surgeon to open a narrowed or blocked artery that is causing harm to your bodily systems. This technique is widely used to treat problems like coronary artery disease (CAD), including chest pain (angina), heart attack and stroke. 

It is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed with the help of an angiography suite, which is essentially a tunnel-like structure in the hospital where both you and your doctor are isolated from others.

During this procedure, a doctor will make an incision in your groin to access one of your blood vessels. The catheter (a long tube with a deflated balloon on its tip) is inserted into this blood vessel to guide it through the body to the blocked (or clogged) artery. 

Once there, the doctor will inflate the balloon with water or air, so it pushes against part of the artery wall, opening up more room for blood flow through your heart.

What Happens After the Procedure?

After the angioplasty procedure, you will be monitored in the hospital for several hours. Your doctor will give you instructions on caring for yourself after your procedure and follow-up appointments. 

You may also be given instructions about how to care for the angioplasty stent or other medical devices placed during the procedure and how to care for any incisions made during this surgery.

How long will it take to recover from angioplasty and stent placement?

The recovery time for angioplasty and stent placement depends on the procedure, but it’s usually a few days. Your doctor will tell you what to expect and what restrictions you’ll have after your surgery.

In some cases, doctors put in permanent stents that stay in place for the rest of your life. Other times they use metal-mesh coils that dissolve over time so that there are no long-term effects.

You will usually be in the hospital for up to three days and can go home on the second day. You should be able to go home on this day.

What risks are associated with angioplasty and stent placement?

The risks of angioplasty include:

• Bleeding at the site of the puncture or stent placement. This is a common complication and can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. (It’s often called a “dissection.”) 
• You’ll need to lie down for several hours after treatment until your blood pressure goes back to normal.
• Infection at the site of puncture or stent placement that spreads through your body and causes fever, chills, weakness, and other symptoms; you may need antibiotics to treat this complication if it occurs. 
• You may feel pain in your chest during or after the procedure. This can be treated with pain medication that can be taken by mouth or by injection into a vein (intravenous). 

The chance of having bleeding or infection is low but possible following any surgical procedure involving an artery above the heart (including coronary arteries).

How Effective is an Angioplasty Stent in Preventing Future Heart Problems?

Angioplasty uses the catheter with special equipment at its end to break up blockages in your coronary arteries. This allows improved blood flow without clots forming inside blood vessels.

The procedure normally takes less than an hour, with a stay in the hospital of no longer than two days. Most people feel well enough to return to work within a few days.

The type of procedure done, as well as the size and location of your blockage, will determine your prognosis for this condition. If you have mild blockage due to plaque buildup on your arteries, it may only take one or two treatments before you feel better and experience less chest pain from Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).

Bid Farewell to Heart Problems – Visit Amandeep Hospital

If you suspect you have a heart problem, the first step to effective treatment is to consult the experts at Amandeep Hospital’s Department of Cardiology. 

We offer diagnosis and healing through cutting-edge technology, veteran specialists along with best practices in emergency cardiac services & minimally invasive interventions and surgeries.

Amandeep Hospital’s proficient team of cardiologists is committed to offering the very best angioplasty stent solutions for the patients. Experience world-class healthcare in the region with us. 

It’s time to prioritise your health. So, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Book an appointment today![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]