What
is Balloon Angioplasty ?
Angioplasty and stent
implantation are common procedures for clearing blocked arteries in the heart.
Coronary angioplasty, often known as percutaneous coronary intervention, is the
medical term for these treatments.
Angioplasty is a procedure that involves the use of a small balloon to enlarge an artery. A stent is a small wire-mesh tube inserted by your doctor into an artery to keep the artery from closing, the stent is left in place. Both procedures are usually done at the same time by a cardiologist.
When is the need for Heart angioplasty and stent placement?
Atherosclerosis
When a fatty substance called plaque sticks
to the inner walls of an artery, the operation is often performed. This is
referred to as atherosclerosis. Plaque builds up inside the artery, restricting
it and reducing blood flow.
When plaque clogs the coronary arteries, it creates coronary heart disease, a dangerous health condition. Because the coronary arteries supply the heart with fresh, oxygenated blood, plaque development in the arteries is very dangerous to your health. The heart cannot function without it.
Angina, or persistent chest pain, can be treated by angioplasty and stent implantation if an artery is blocked and drugs aren't working. They're also employed as emergency procedures in the event of a heart attack.
Some conditions cannot be treated by angioplasty or stents. When the primary artery on the left side of the heart becomes blocked, coronary artery bypass surgery may be a better alternative. If a patient has several artery blockages or has diabetes, a doctor may recommend coronary bypass surgery.
What is the procedure of Heart angioplasty and stent placement?
A minimally
invasive procedure is angioplasty with stent placement. During this technique,
the following steps take place:
To access an artery, a cardiologist will make a small
incision in your thigh or arm. Your cardiologist will use that incision to place
a catheter, which is a thin, flexible tube.
The catheter will then be guided up your body to your
coronary arteries. This will allow them to view your arteries using
fluoroscopy, a sort of X-ray. They can also be guided by a particular dye.
A tiny wire will be passed through the catheter by your
cardiologist. The guiding wire will subsequently be followed by a second
catheter. A tiny balloon is linked to this catheter.
Your cardiologist will inflate the balloon once it has reached the blocked artery. Then your cardiologist will place the stent at the same time as the balloon, allowing blood flow to resume and the artery to remain open. Your cardiologist will remove the catheter once the stent is secure, but leave the stent in place so blood can continue to flow. Some stents have a coating that gently delivers medication into the artery. These are referred to as "drug-eluting stents (DES)." These stents help in the treatment of fibrosis, a tissue accumulation that stops an artery from shutting. Sometimes bare metal stents, or stents that haven't been coated with medication, are used.
What happens after heart angioplasty and stent placement?
You may have pain at the incision site. Over-the-counter
remedies can be used to treat this. You'll most probably be given medicine to
keep your blood from clotting. This aids in the body's adaptation to the new
stent.
Your cardiologist will almost certainly want you to spend the
night in the hospital to ensure that there are no complications, such as
bleeding, blood clots, or issues with blood flow to the heart. If you've had a
coronary event, such as a heart attack, your stay could be probably longer.
When you go home,
make sure you drink plenty of water and limit your physical activity for a
while. It's critical that you follow your doctor's advice.
Even while an angioplasty with stent insertion can save your life, you'll still need to adopt lifestyle changes to improve your heart health. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and quitting smoking are all examples of healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Any
surgical treatment involves some level of risk. Since the operation involves
cardiac arteries, angioplasty with stent implantation, it carries a higher
risk of side effects.
The
operation can poses the following risks:
·
adverse
response to medication or dye
·
breathing
issues
·
bleeding
·
stented
artery blockage
·
blood
clotheart attack
·
Infection
·
re-narrowing
of the artery
Stroke
and seizures are two rare side effects.
In most cases, the risks of not having the surgery are more than the risks of angioplasty with stent implantation.
You'll have little time to prepare if you
need angioplasty with stent placement in your coronary arteries as a result of
an emergency occurrence, such as a heart attack caused by coronary artery
disease.
There are a few things you should do to
prepare if you're having the surgery with enough time to spare.
• Inform your doctor about any medications, herbs, or supplements
you are taking.
• Stop using any blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin,
clopidogrel (Plavix), ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and any
other medications your doctor advises you to stop taking.
• If you smoke, give it up.
• Tell your doctor about any ailments you're experiencing, even if
it's only a common cold or the flu.
• Follow your doctor's instructions for taking any drugs.
· Allow plenty of time to get to the hospital and prepare for
surgery.
• Follow your doctor's or surgeon's directions to the point.