Also referred to as percutaneous coronary intervention, angioplasty is a medical procedure used by skilled healthcare professionals to clear the arteries located near and around the heart as well as other locations. Angioplasty involves the insertion of a thin tube that inflates a balloon to expand the space of an artery.
To ensure the newly cleared artery remains open for blood circulation, our team of experienced cardiovascular specialists have the option to place a stent to prevent future blockage. Stents represents small, non-invasive wire meshes that provide enough support to keep artery walls open. Sometimes, Dr. Chadda will instruct his accomplished team to place medication coated stents, while at other times we use bare metal stents.
THE HEALTH DANGER OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS
We implement the angioplasty procedure to treat a potentially fatal heart disease called atherosclerosis. Our recommendation for performing an angioplasty that includes stenting is typically based on cases when patients require immediate medical intervention because medications and/or lifestyle changes have not worked enough to clear narrowed or blocked arteries.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR AN ANGIOPLASTY PROCEDURE?
After the diagnosis that determines the need for angioplasty, Dr. Chadda and his team of dedicated healthcare specialists reviews your medical history and conducts a thorough physical examination. We perform an imaging test referred to as a coronary angiogram to determine if we can treat one or more of artery blockages with angioplasty and stenting. An angiogram also tells us if the arteries are narrowed or nearly completely blocked. After performing meticulous tests, we prepare our patients for an angioplasty by suggesting lifestyle tips, such as eating and drinking restrictions, that ensures the body is ready to undergo the procedure.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN ANGIOPLASTY AND STENTING?
During an angioplasty, we inject a liquid dye into the arteries by using a catheter. The long, very thin tube threads from an arm, wrist, or the groin area to the network of arteries that supply blood to the heart. The liquid dye eventually becomes visible on our video and x-ray screens to confirm how much stenting you need to keep clogged heart arteries opened.
Our team of experienced heart specialists creates a tiny incision in the area of the skin located over a blood vessel running through an arm, wrist, or groin. Dr Chadda typically performs an angioplasty and stenting, with his team of cardiovascular experts monitoring your vital signs and conducting tests. We use a local anesthetic injected into the catheter to numb the area where we insert the very small tube. You can expect to remain awake during an angioplasty and stenting, as well as receive fluids to the body as needed.
RECUPERATING FROM ANGIOPLASTY
If you needed an angioplasty and stenting procedure for a non-emergency medical reason, your stay in a hospital should last no more than one day. A vast majority of our patients who undergo a non-emergency angioplasty resume their normal daily lives less than a week after we perform the cardiovascular procedure.
We send our patients home with a clear list of instructions, with drinking fluids throughout each recovery day one of the primary objectives. Drinking fluids helps flush the arteries of the contrast dye we injected to detect the severity of the blocked arteries near and around the heart. Dr. Chadda recommends patients refrain from exercise and the lifting of heavy objects of more than 10-15 lbs for at least one week after arriving home to recuperate from a non-emergency angioplasty and stenting procedure.
You should call our office if you experience one or more of the following symptoms after an angioplasty and stenting procedure:
- You notice signs of an infection that include fever, swelling, and/or drainage from the area of catheter insertion
- Pain at the area where the catheter was inserted
- Change in the color or temperature of the limb or groin area used to insert the catheter
- Faintness or weakness, especially when you get up from a chair to your feet
You should contact 911 if you experience sharp chest pains or develop severe shortness of breath. We highly encourage our patients to enlist the support of a friend or family member to help monitor potential side effects of angioplasty and stenting at least 24 hours after the procedure.
MEDICAL RISKS OF ANGIOPLASTY
Dr. Chadda makes it clear to every patient that angioplasty and stenting is not a procedure we recommend for everyone. For example, if the left side of your heart narrows too much or the muscle protecting the heart becomes too weak, we may recommend coronary bypass surgery to alleviate the health issues caused by narrowed and/or clogged heart arteries. You might have several diseased blood vessels that require a more invasive procedure than angioplasty and stenting. Our diabetic patients might also require coronary bypass surgery to open up blocked heart arteries.
GET THE BEST ANGIOPLASTY CARE FROM DR. CHADDA
We educate our patients about all of the possible medical interventions that depend on the condition of the arteries supplying blood to the heart. Our team of compassionate healthcare professionals walks you through every step of angioplasty and stenting, from the first appointment diagnosing the condition of your heart arteries to follow up conversations that ensure you have regained vibrant health.
Contact our clinic today to schedule an initial consultation to determine if angioplasty and stenting is the right heart care option for you.