This blocking is in the form of a sticky substance known as plaque. It hardens the arteries and affects the functioning of the heart, which gets termed coronary artery disease.
The condition is treatable with a minimally invasive procedure called angioplasty. Your doctor may advise this treatment when you face severe discomfort and pain in your chest or peripheral parts. Besides, it is an immediate solution to reduce the risk of a heart attack. It may seem like a complicated procedure to someone from a non-medical background.
But it is instead a straightforward method to treat CAD effectively. Understanding the same helps in setting the expectations right.
Procedure: It is not a major surgery; it often gets performed under conscious or moderate sedation in a cardiovascular catheterization laboratory. The process begins by inserting a thin catheter tube through a small puncture in the abdomen or arm. A guidewire escorts a balloon-tipped at the end of the catheter to the coronary blood vessel.
Once the blockage gets identified, a second catheter gets inserted at the exact location of the blockage. The balloon gets inflated to carry out rapid expansion and contraction, which pushes the plaque build-up away and opens up the artery. Lastly, an angioplasty stent replaces the deflated balloon to keep the artery propped open.
Precautions: Recovery after the treatment is typically brief. You get to go home approximately 12 to 24 hours after the catheter removal. However, taking some necessary precautions helps reduce the complications during and after the procedure. Here are some practices to follow for safe treatment and recovery:
- There are two ideal insertion points. One is through the arm, and the other is via the groin. In the case of the latter, you need to lie straight throughout the treatment.
- When the catheter gets inserted through the arm, the doctor bandages the area for proper healing. Make sure to inform any symptoms like chest pain, swelling or pain at the insertion site.
- Take medications as prescribed to prevent clot formation or a life-threatening complication like stent thrombosis.
- If you had a heart attack before undergoing balloon angioplasty, you must get a green signal from the doctor to resume driving post-operation.
- Avoid lifting heavy weights until one week after the procedure.
- Include low-pressure inducing exercises in your routine to speed up the recovery. Inform the doctor immediately if faced with any complications while doing the same.
- Gradually resume your activities in the light of your recovery stage.
- Follow a diet that mainly consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, etc. At the same time, reduce salt consumption and sugar intake.
- Do not miss out on follow-ups after the procedure. They are generally once a month. Here, you get recommendations based on your improvements to prevent the re-blocking of arteries.