Angioplasty is a procedure of opening the narrowed coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.

A stent is a small metal mesh tube which is placed inside the coronary artery during the angioplasty procedure. The procedure is done under local anesthesia.

Artemis also known as a heart center in Gurgaon has been successfully performing angioplasty for many years.

Procedure:

The procedure starts and the doctor explains the process to the patient. A pain medication is given, and then the doctor anesthetizes the place from where the Catheter will be inserted.

A catheter is a thin long and a hollow tube which is inserted into the artery through the groin or the wrist. It is then guided up through the sheath to the blood vessels surrounding the heart.

A dye is put in through the catheter and its movement through the hearts chamber, valve and blood vessels are seen by an X-ray. The doctor can analyze through the X-ray whether the heart valves are working properly.

If an angioplasty has to be performed the doctor moves the catheter into the blocked artery and performs the procedure of angioplasty.

Types of Angioplasty Procedures:

There are various procedures a doctor chooses from,

Balloon Angioplasty

During this procedure, a catheter with a small balloon is guided to the narrowed artery. When it reaches the place of blockage, the balloon is inflated. This pushes the plaque and stretches the artery to improve the blood flow to the heart.

Coronary Artery Stent

These stents are like a small expandable tube, which support the inside of the coronary artery. They are inserted in the artery during the angioplasty with a help of very thin guide wire which places the balloon and stent in place. The balloon which is placed inside the stent is inflated. This pushes the stent against the artery. The balloon is then deflated and is removed leaving the stent in place.

Rotablation

This technique is used when the plaque is too hard to be compressed by a balloon or a stent. The procedure includes a special guide wire which is passed to the site of the stenosis. This is followed by drill which is powered by compressed air. Drilling is done to cut the plaque into small pieces which are removed from the body naturally. This is followed by ballooning or stenting.

Atherectomy

In this procedure, the catheter used has a hollow cylinder which is open in one side and has a balloon on the other. During the process as the catheter is inserted the balloon is inflated which pushes the window against the plaque. The cylinder blades then shave off any protruding plaque. The shaving goes inside the catheter and is removed. The process is repeated if needed.

Both Rotablation and Atherectomy procedure are rarely performed says a surgeon performing the best angioplasty treatment in Gurgaon.

Pre-Procedure Guidelines

A routine blood test and ECG is performed before the procedure. The patient is advised to fast after midnight. If wearing dentures, glasses and hearing aid, make sure you wear them and come for better communication.

Tell the doctor if taking any medication such as insulin or a diuretic.

The patient is awake during the procedure but would be given medicine to relax.

Post-Procedure Guidelines

On an average, the hospital stay is not beyond 3 days. Most of the people leave the same day, the procedure is performed.

Depending on where the catheter was put the patient can walk around within a few hours. Complete recovery takes a week time or less. Post-procedure care guidelines are advised by the doctor.

Angioplasty does not cure the cause which leads to this heart disease i.e. artery blockage but surely does improve the blood flow to the heart.