Coronary arteries are the major vessels which maintain the integrity and smooth functioning of heart muscles by supplying blood. Occasionally with age or other associated lifestyle factors like smoking and consumption of food containing higher amounts of fats the coronary arteries start getting blocked because of accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque. These blocked arteries are not patent enough to maintain adequate amount of supply to the heart muscles there by causing generation of pain in the heart or the chest wall which is referred to as angina and eventually leading to a heart attack. Coronary angioplasty is an interventional procedure where the blockage in the coronary artery is removed and the artery is widened or stretched again with either the procedure or by the use of a stent to maintain its patency.
What is coronary angioplasty ?
A blockage of these coronary vessels and impaired blood supply to the cardiac muscle is a possible indication for coronary angioplasty.
What are the indications of a coronary angioplasty procedure?
A coronary angioplasty is indicated in case of detected blocked arteries supplying the heart muscles. Coronary angioplasty is also indicated in patients who are either suffering with acute or chronic heart attack due to either a clot or a blockage in the vessels of the heart. Most commonly the angioplasty procedure is performed in older individuals in whom the heart vessels are blocked due to atherosclerosis. Nowadays due to change in lifestyle artery blockages and incidences of heart attacks are also reported in younger individuals.
When is a coronary angioplasty procedure not indicated?
Coronary angioplasty is an interventional procedure which is usually performed when one or few arteries are blocked. In case of multiple blockages, a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is performed. Ask your healthcare provider and consulting specialist about the detailed indications and contraindications of a coronary angioplasty procedure.
What investigations are done before an coronary angioplasty is performed?
The narrowing and blockage of arteries is usually detected on examination of the heart during an angiogram procedure. During an angiogram procedure a small wire is passed with the help of a catheter to the heart via the groin or the wrist area. A biocompatible dye is injected to visualize the artery and if any blockage, narrowing or a clot is detected on the angiogram it is visualized on the monitor. Other investigations require some laboratory tests, electrocardiogram (ECG) and Cardiac ultrasound (Echocardiogram) to determine the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood and markers of heart damage.
How do you prepare for a coronary angioplasty procedure?
Before deciding for a coronary angioplasty procedure ask your consultant specialist or a cardiologist for the risk, benefits and outcomes of a coronary angioplasty procedure. The coronary angioplasty is usually performed either after a coronary angiogram is performed and laboratory investigations are completed. The patient is usually admitted to the hospital either a day before or on the same day of the procedure, unless the patient is brought in as an emergency case. The treating specialist might ask you to start on some medication before the start of the procedure.
What is the procedure for coronary angioplasty ?
An angioplasty takes about 30 minutes to about 2 hours’ maximum from the start to the finish of the procedure. The procedure is usually performed in a Cath lab part of the cardiology unit. At the start of the procedure local anaesthesia is administered to numb the area of either the groin or the wrist. The patient is usually awake during the procedure. Some anxiety relaxants can be administered in cases of sensitive patients. Followed by the administration and incidence of anaesthetic effect the hollow flexible tube called as the catheter is passed through the artery and a dye is injected to visualize the entire procedure. The consulting specialist or the cardiologist guides up the catheter up the heart to reach the narrowed or blocked arteries which is detected on monitor. Normally the catheter is ballooned up to remove the plaques attached to the walls of the artery. This procedure is also referred to as Balloon angioplasty and leads to widening of the artery and thereby improving the blood flow to the heart. Other modifications of the angioplasty may include use of a stent which is referred to as PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty)/ PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) and Rotablation procedure where the tip of the instrument used to grind the atherosclerotic path away. In case of a blockage caused due to the clot or thrombus in the artery. Clot resolving medications are administered and sometimes suction is used to remove the clot. If the walls of the artery are disfigured due to the deposition of plaques a stent is put in place to maintain the patency of the artery thereby maintain adequate blood supply to the heart.
What happens after the coronary angioplasty procedure?
After the angioplasty procedure is completed the catheters are removed and the patient is shifted to a cardiac care unit for close monitoring for a few hours. Once the patient is stable, patient is shifted to the wards before the discharge process is initiated. After the coronary angioplasty the patient is advised to take certain medication such as Aspirin and medication to control the cholesterol levels. Ask your consulting specialist for details regarding the medication. The patient is advised to see the consultant specialist for routine follow up, modify lifestyle by regular exercise, consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables and avoiding junk food.
The recovery time is longer in case of patients who undergo angioplasty procedure on an emergency condition, for example after a heart attack. More care has to be taken in such cases.
Is coronary angioplasty a safe procedure?
Yes, coronary angioplasty is one of the most common treatment performed for any heart associated ailments. The procedure does not require administration of general anaesthesia and making of large incisions to expose the heart it is considered as a rather safe procedure with minimal side effects.
What is an angiogram and what is angioplasty ? How are they different ?
An angiogram is a radiographic or X-ray study of blood vessels that supply an organ such as kidneys, lungs or heart. An angioplasty is a surgical intervention done to repair the artery. It can be combined with an angiography and done simultaneously following it.
What is the advantage of a coronary angioplasty ?
A coronary angioplasty is still a relatively minor surgical procedure as compared to the other cardiac procedures like bypass graft surgery/ open heart surgery or heart transplantation which are major surgical procedures.
Is coronary angioplasty a cure for coronary artery disease?
No coronary angioplasty is not a cure for a coronary artery disease. The incidence of coronary artery disease can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle which includes healthy eating habits, regular exercise, avoiding junk food and cessation of smoking and alcohol consumption.
Who performs a coronary angioplasty ?
Coronary angioplasty is performed by an interventional cardiologist.
What is the care to be taken after a coronary angioplasty ?
It requires a dedicated change in lifestyle and rehabilitative exercises to help recover full heart function. Diet modification will have to be done, along with eating heart-healthy foods. A heart-healthy diet aims to lower salt intake and decrease unhealthy fats in the body by boosting the amounts of fruits, green vegetables, and whole grains that you eat.
What is the outcome of a coronary angioplasty procedure?
Coronary angioplasty is one of the most commonly performed heart procedures around the globe. The success rates of coronary angioplasty procedure are well documented in literature. Since it is a rather less invasive procedure the risks and side effects associated with the same are few. With the advancements in medicine nowadays medicated stents are available which have longer durability and have medication coated on them to prevent any further blockage. Ask your consulting cardiologist if coronary angioplasty is suitable procedure for your artery disease.
How to find cardiologists for coronary angioplasty ?
You can find and reach cardiologists for coronary angioplastyfrom different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple cardiologists, get approximate cost of coronary angioplasty from various heart hospitals, compare things and then choose a cardiologist for coronary angioplasty procedure.
Find and choose a cardiologist for coronary angioplasty on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
