Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a system used to widen a narrowed or totally blocked blood vessel. When arteries become partly blocked due to deposition of fatty substance in the inner walls, the space normally available for blood to travel to the heart decreases. With the amount of blood available to heart receding, the quantum of oxygen needed also reduces. The problem becomes acute with every passing day. The person starts experiencing sudden blackouts and breathlessness.

A cardiologist advises Angioplasty. Depending on the condition of the effected artery, any one of the three methods is recommended - Balloon angioplasty, Atherectomy, and Stent placement.

How is it done?

Narrowed Artery – Coronary Angioplasty
It is a therapeutic procedure to treat narrowed coronary arteries. In this method, the Doctor inserts a long Catheter, a narrow tube through an incision in the groin. This tube travels all the way to the heart. The catheter has an inflated balloon in its tip, which stretches the artery open.

Atherectomy

In this method at the tip of the catheter a ‘rotoblater, a diamond tipped burr, or a ‘cutter’, a tiny blade is fitted. This is done to ‘shave off’ the fat and the plaque from the walls.

Peripheral angioplasty - It is a method that involves mechanical opening of the other blocked arteries and not the coronary arteries. It is commonly called Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty or PTA. It is mostly used to treat blocked leg arteries, iliacs, femoral and poptliteal arteries.

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The patient with any of the above-mentioned symptoms must discuss in detail the condition of his heart and once he understands the complexity fully, should agree to undergo the surgery.

Recovery

After an angioplasty, the patient has to continue in the hospital for one to two days. After leaving the hospital, patients are instructed on particular wound care techniques, activity level and discharge instructions, which they need to follow during their recovery. Further, the patient must also take medications and maintain other restrictions. For those undergoing balloon angioplasty must keep away from strenuous activities or physical exertion for one to two weeks after during recovery.

In some cases, the doctors also recommend changes in lifestyle, especially in smoking habits, daily activities and diet.