What Happens During The Angioplasty Procedure?
What to Expect After the Angioplasty & How Soon You Can Recover?
The angioplasty procedure is a minimally invasive way to open blocked arteries and improve arterial blood flow. The procedure is usually performed in a hospital setting. Once adequate monitoring devices are in place and an intravenous line is established, you are ready for the angioplasty.
What Are The Common Risks Involved With Angioplasty Procedure?
An angioplasty procedure is a complicated procedure. It involves opening of the most critical arteries that supply blood to the heart. As, the heart is the most vital organ of the body, there are always critical risks involved with such an intervention. The most notable risks with angioplasty procedure include:
- Bleeding from the catheter insertion site or infection
- Catheter-induced damage to the blood vessels or blood clot formation
- Heart attack, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythm, or even stroke
- Adverse reaction to the contrast dye or contrast-induced damage to the kidneys
- Rupture and/or complete closure of the artery being treated requiring conversion to an open-heart procedure
- Other associated risks of non-cardiac origin
Preparation for Angioplasty!
Before scheduling you for an angioplasty procedure, your treating doctor or interventional cardiologist will schedule you for a comprehensive history and physical exam to make an overall health assessment of all your body systems.
- He will ask you in detail about your past medical history, family history, social history, and current medications that you are taking.
- He will check for any allergies that you may have to contrast dyes, iodine, tape, anesthesia, or other medicines or products.
- He will also specifically ask you about any bleeding disorders that you may have had in the past as there is always a bleeding risk associated with the angioplasty.
- He will also make a complete review of all your body systems, and also do a comprehensive physical examination.
- He will order any lab and radiology tests including chest x-ray, blood tests including the test to check your blood clotting time, and other routine labs to check your health status.
- He will also ask you to sign a consent form before you undergo this complicated heart procedure.
- He may advise you to stop some medications or prescribe a new medication as per your assessment.
- He will also list all your current diagnoses that may or may not intervene with this type of procedure.
- Based on this comprehensive assessment, he will make the necessary recommendations and may also advise you on the diet that you should follow.
What Happens During The Angioplasty Procedure?
If you are scheduled to have an angioplasty procedure, you may be wondering what to expect. During the procedure, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area around the artery at the catheter insertion site. A catheter, a thin tube, will then be inserted into the artery through which a balloon is also inserted and directed towards the area of blockage. It will then be inflated to widen the artery and remove any blockage. This helps to open the artery and improve the blood flow. In some cases, a stent (a small wire mesh tube) may also be inserted to help keep the artery open.
What to Expect After the Angioplasty & How Soon You Can Recover?
Most doctors perform angioplasty procedures on an outpatient basis, which means you can go home the same day. The procedure itself only takes a few minutes, but doctors give the patients a local anesthesia to keep them comfortable. Recovery from an angioplasty procedure is typically quick. You may have some bruising and soreness at the incision site, but this should resolve within a few days. You will likely be able to return to your normal activities within a week. If you have a more complex angioplasty procedure, such as one that involves inserting a stent, your recovery time may be longer. In these cases, you may need to stay in the hospital for a day or two.
Dr. Arun – A Highly Skilled and Certified Interventional Cardiologist With A Proven Track Record of Doing Successful Angioplasty Procedures!
Overall, the angioplasty procedure is a safe and effective. This way, you can improve blood flow and reduce the risk of heart attack & stroke. To be sure about its success, you should seek the help from a highly experienced and expert interventional cardiologist such as Dr. Arun who can assist you fully with all your questions and concerns about the angioplasty procedure. He has a proven track record. The doc also holds high success rate in treating many patients with blocked arteries. Dr. Arun is also known for great post-procedure results.
