Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) – Coronary Angioplasty

Coronary angioplasty is a procedure that opens blocked arteries and allows blood to flow to your heart muscle. Angioplasty is not surgery. It opens a clogged coronary artery by inflating a tiny balloon in it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

The information presented below is only for informational purposes. Your surgeon will talk to you about details regarding your specific procedure.

Who should have a coronary angioplasty done?

This procedure is for anyone with narrowed or blocked arteries of the heart due to a buildup of material; plaque on their inner walls. This narrowing reduces the flow of blood through the artery and can lead over time to coronary artery disease and heart attack. This procedure helps to relieve chest pain an minimize damage to the heart muscle during a heart attach.

How is the procedure performed?

A thin tube with a balloon or other device on the end is first threaded through a blood vessel in the arm or groin (upper thigh) up to the site of a narrowing or blockage in a coronary artery. Once in place, the balloon is then inflated to push the plaque outward against the wall of the artery, widening the artery and restoring the flow of blood through it.

Image Source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Angioplasty/Angioplasty_WhatIs.html

What devices are used in this procedure?

These days, stents are commonly used in such a procedure. A stent is a tiny mesh tube that looks like a small spring. The stent is inserted in the area where the artery is narrowed to keep it open. Some stents are "coated" with medication to help prevent the artery from closing again. Stents are used in most angioplasties except when an artery is too small for a stent to fit. Plaque removers may also be used to cut away plaque that narrows in the inside of the arteries. Finally, a laser can be used to dissolve or vaporize plaque. Talk to you cardiologist about which method will best work for your condition.

What happens after the procedure?

When you are ready to leave the hospital, you will receive instructions to follow at home, including:

• How much activity or exercise you can do.
• When you should follow up with your doctor.
• What medicines you should take.
• What you should look for daily when checking for signs of infection around the area where the tube was inserted, such as:
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Drainage
• When you should call your doctor, for example:
  • If you have a fever or signs of infection
  • If you have pain or bleeding where the tube was inserted

What are the risks involved with this procedure?

Angioplasty is a common medical procedure. Major complications are rare, but any medical procedure has risks. The risks of angioplasty include:

• Bleeding from the blood vessel where the catheter (small flexible tube) was inserted
• Damage to the blood vessel from the catheter
• Infection
• Allergic reaction to dye given during the angioplasty

Other less-common complications include:

• Heart attack
• Need for emergency open-heart surgery during the procedure
• Stroke
• Death