Coronary arteries manage the supply of blood to the heart muscle. They can become narrow or blocked due to increased fat and cholesterol. It is known as plaque which gathers around the inner lining of the arterial walls. This results in coronary artery disease (CAP). The treatment for which is often performed through an angioplasty procedure.
It is a treatment to open up the blocked or narrowed pathways of the arteries to restore the natural blood flow. It is called Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in pathology. If your doctor has recommended this treatment for your heart condition, this post covers what it entails.
Types
Depending on your condition and complications involved, your surgeon may opt for any of these two types of procedure:
- A special catheter with a tiny balloon gets inserted towards the opening of the blocked artery in balloon angioplasty. Once inside, the balloon gets inflated to widen the opening, displace the plaque, and normalise blood flow.
- A small mesh, a tube-like structure called a stent, gets placed to support the inside of the coronary artery. This is done to keep the artery open throughout the treatment for ease of access. The balloon used gets deflated easily while the stent holds the artery open. It stays there for several weeks until the healing takes effect.
Preparation
Even though the treatment is minimally invasive, it is still a surgery. You must take the necessary precautions before it starts like:
- Inform your doctor about all your existing medical conditions and the medications you take.
- You should specify any allergic reactions to any metals, drugs, iodine, rubber products, etc.
- You likely get advised not to drink or eat six to twelve hours before the procedure.
- You must remove dentures, glasses or jewellery before going into the operation theatre.
- Emptying your bowels and bladder ensure a comfortable and uninterrupted procedure.
Method
The entire procedure of coronary angioplasty lasts up to 30 minutes to three hours. After the treatment, your heart condition is monitored regularly to check for any after-effects. It is carried out as follows:
- The doctor starts by numbing the entering of your femoral artery in the groin or radial artery in your arm to insert the catheter. You also get sedated during this stage.
- The guiding wire gets passed through the entrance to the vascular system for reaching your heart.
- The catheter with the balloon at its tip is then guided through the wire to the coronary artery. An imaging tool called fluoroscopy is used to monitor the procedure.
- Once the blockage gets identified through the X-ray called an angiogram, the balloon expands and contracts to push the plaque opening the narrowed space.
- Once the blood flow gets restored, the balloon gets deflated and taken out.