Angioplasty is a procedure performed to reduce or eliminate coronary artery disease.
Angioplasty restores the blood flow to the blood deprived heart tissue, reduces or eliminates the number of angina episodes and reduces the need for medications.
Angioplasty for coronary artery disease:
In angioplasty procedure, balloon catheter is used to dilate narrow section of coronary artery. Shorter recovery time is required for angioplasty than bypass surgery. Stents are inserted during the procedure of angioplasty.
After sedation, a thin flexible tube or catheter is included in the groin or arm through an artery and it is carefully guided into the blocked coronary artery up the aorta. Cardiac catheterization or coronary angiography is performed to identify any blockages if present.
How stents are placed during angiography?
A stent is a small wire, which can be expandable, is inserted permanently during angioplasty into the artery. Inside the stent, a balloon should be placed and inflated. It opens the stent and is pushed against the artery wall. Now, the stent is left in the place by deflating and removing the balloon.
Stents are used to open the artery and pressing the plaque against the walls of arteries, which improves blood flow. After deflating and removing the balloon, the artery should be kept open by the stents. The tears in the artery wall should be sealed by stenting.
Stenting also prevents the collapsing or closing off the artery wall again. It also prevents small pieces of plaque from breaking off.
Angioplasty with or without stenting:
Angioplasty with or without stenting is used if your chest pain or angina is severe that does not respond for medications. It also reduces severe blood flow to heart muscle area that is caused by one or more narrowing of coronary arteries. Angioplasty with or without stenting is used if you are in good health to undergo this procedure.
When angioplasty is not preferred?
Angioplasty is not preferred when there is no evidence of reduction in blood flow to the heart muscles. It is also not preferred when only small areas of heart are at risk and you do not have disabling chest pain. If you have other complications or health problems, this surgery is not used.
Effects of angioplasty:
Angioplasty relieves your chest pain and improves flow of blood to the heart. If there is occurrence of restenosis, another angioplasty or bypass surgery is required. This surgery is very effective to reestablish blood flow during heart attack.
Angioplasty with stenting, combined with medicines reduces the risk of cardiac episode such as stroke or heart attack in some people.
Angioplasty does not need open chest surgery and there are fewer complications than bypass surgery. If you have diabetes and are affected with multiple coronary arteries, coronary artery bypass surgery is better than angioplasty.
