What You Need to Know About Angioplasty and Stent Placement for the Heart

 

Angioplasty Stent

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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