Balloon Angioplasty or Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)
After Assessing your reports and
having studied your angiogram your doctor will evaluate the number, type and
site of blockages. He might opt for an angioplasty. Angioplasty is conducted
under local anesthesia. A balloon tipped catheter is inserted into the femoral
artery. This catheter is slowly fed into the coronary artery under constant
X-ray guidance. The balloon at the tip of the catheter is insufflated at the site
of the blockage. As the balloon expands under high pressure, the opening of the
blocked artery widens in most cases, relieving the obstruction. The purpose of
this balloon is to compress the plaque, plastering it as a thin layer along the
wall of the vessel. This clears the lumen permitting an increased flow of
blood. This is also called “Balloon Angioplasty”. The balloon is then deflated
and the catheter removed. The procedure normally takes less than an hour. It takes
only one day of hospital recovery.
Regular Follow up
Once you get enrolled into the
treatment programme, a regular evaluation is necessary to monitor your progress.
The effectiveness of your medication needs to be monitored and if recovery is
not to your doctor’s satisfaction, your treatment programme may need to be
assessed and rescheduled. If you notice any change in the pattern or intensity
of your angina episodes, inform your doctor. Reducing your risk factors,
wherever possible, could lead to a comfortable and productive life.
Stents
In the past few years, stents
have been introduced during an angioplasty to widen narrowed arteries. A stent
is a wire mesh tube used to prop open an artery during angioplasty. The stent
is collapsed to a small diameter and put over a balloon catheter. It is then
moved into the area of the blockage. With the balloon inflation, the stent expands.
The stent is left in the blood vessel to prevent it from narrowing. Over a
period of time, it gets covered with tissue from the inner lining of the
coronary artery. Ant platelet medication is given to stop the formation of a
bloot clot in the newly opened artery. The stent stays in the artery
permanently, helping it to remain open. It also improves blood flow to the
heart muscles and relives symptoms like chest pain.
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