What You Need to Know About Angioplasty and Stent Placement for the Heart
Angioplasty and stent placement for the heart is a procedure
to open blocked arteries in your heart. By opening the artery, blood flow is
restored to your heart.
During angioplasty, a catheter (tube) is inserted into an
artery in your groin or arm. The catheter is then threaded through your blood
vessels until it reaches the narrowed area of the coronary artery.
Once it reaches the narrowed area, a small balloon on the
tip of the catheter is inflated to flatten the plaque against the artery wall.
The doctor may also inject medicine into the fatty deposits around the artery
to help them dissolve.
After angioplasty, a stent (a metal mesh tube) may be
inserted into your artery to keep it open and prevent another blockage from
forming.
Why might I need angioplasty and stent placement?
Angioplasty stent placement can treat heart disease
caused by coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as coronary artery
obstruction or blockage. This condition occurs when plaque builds up in your
arteries, causing them to narrow or harden over time. This may cause chest pain
called angina, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue and more serious
problems like heart attack or stroke. If you have symptoms that suggest CAD,
you may need angioplasty with or without stenting; however, if you have no
symptoms but have been diagnosed with CAD through testing such as stress tests
or coronary angiography, you may need only angioplasty without stenting if the
blockage isn't severe.
The American Heart Association recommends angioplasty as the
first treatment for people who have stable coronary artery disease and can't
tolerate medical therapy.
What Are the Risks of Angioplasty and Stent Placement?
The main risk is that you may have another heart attack or
stroke during or shortly after the procedure. This is why you'll usually need
to stay in the hospital for several days after angioplasty and stent placement.
Other possible complications include:
Bleeding from the site where doctors insert a catheter into
your vein (this is rare)
Infection at the site of an incision (rare)
Conclusion
As you can see, coronary angioplasty and stenting are
serious procedures that carry a large risk. Therefore, if you have any heart
issues, it's vital to seek medical advice and be fully informed of all your
treatment options. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your doctor; this
should help you make the right decision for your life and health.

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