Angioplasty

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Atherosclerosis	Cardiac catheterization	Cholesterol producers	Coronary artery balloon angioplasty - series
Stable angina

Balloon angioplasty; Coronary angioplasty; Coronary artery angioplasty; Cardiac angioplasty; PTCA; Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; Heart artery dilatation

This procedure greatly improves blood flow through the coronary arteries and the heart in about 90% of patients. It may eliminate the need for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).

The result is relief from chest pain, and improved exercise capacity. In 2 out of 3 cases, the procedure is considered successful with complete elimination of the narrowing or blockage.

This procedure treats the condition, but does not cure the cause. Re-narrowing may occur, which may or may not require another procedure. However, the introduction of stents coated with medicines to prevent narrowing (drug-eluting stents) has helped reduce the rates of repeated angioplasty.

You should diet, exercise, stop smoking (if you smoke), and reduce stress to help lower your chances of re-narrowing. The health care provider may prescribe a medication, such as a statin drug, to help lower your cholesterol.

Aspirin and the anti-platelet medicine clopidogrel (Plavix) are usually given after coronary angioplasty and stenting. It is very important to take the medicines exactly as recommended by the health care provider. Failure to do so can result in blood clotting in the stent (stent thrombosis) and a heart attack.

If the arteries are not sufficiently widened by angioplasty or the blockages are too severe to be treated by angioplasty, CABG may be recommended.

Usually, the average hospital stay is less than 2 days. Often times, an overnight hospital stay is not required at all.

In general, persons who have angioplasty are able to walk around within 6 hours after the procedure. Complete recovery takes a week or less. You should keep the area where the catheter was inserted dry for 24 to 48 hours.

Review Date: 05/30/2006
Reviewed By: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network.