Angioplasty: Coronary Heart Disease Treatment With Stents

Fixing clogged heart coronary arteries with techniques using metal stents

Angioplasty is a preventative heart care where clogged/blocked coronary arteries are unclogged to maintain blood flow as normal. It is also known as Balloon Angioplasty and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. This procedure helps to open clogged arteries and facilitate normal blood flow to the heart muscle. Angioplasty: Coronary Heart Disease Treatment With Stents is a robust procedure and can be done even in the emergency setting as Heart Attack!

Angiography and Angiogram

Angiography is the procedure to investigate the condition of coronary (heart) arteries for existing heart condition.

There are specialized x-ray test either Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) or Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) in which a contrast dye (containing Iodine) is injected into blood vessel and image of blood vessels are obtained. Drinking lots of water afterwards will flush out dye from the body later.

In light scan the dye shows up and the flow of dye is followed to observe the condition of the blood vessels. Angiogram is the scan that shows blood flow through arteries or veins to and from heart. The diseased/constricted or blocked site of blood vessel, weak areas (Aneurysms) are detected in this scan.

Angioplasty: A Cath Lab Procedure

Angioplasty which is not considered a major surgery can easily be performed in Cardiovascular Catheterization Laboratory or a ‘Cath Lab’. These procedures are performed under conscious or moderate sedation.

Angioplasty is usually safe and effective but not completely complication free. During Angioplasty or opening of narrowed blood vessels, Specialists/Surgeons insert a thin tube or catheter from leg or arm artery (blood vessel) that supply blood to heart.

A small puncture is made in blood vessel to insert thin catheter which reach up to clogged artery site. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area. Then a small metal mesh tube: Stent is placed here to increase the diameter of site in question, to maintain the normal blood flow. Blood vessel or clogged artery is cleaned of blockage and expanded

Metal Stents and Innovations

Stents are small metal tubes that are used to treat coronary heart diseases where arteries are narrowed down. These are expandable tubes which when placed at clogged artery site expand and make passage for flow of blood where arteries are clogged by plaque build up.

First Generation Stents : Made up of bare metal and help in eliminating the risk of collapsing artery due to blockage again for limited time.

Drug- Eluting Stents : Drug coated medicated stents that prevent blockage of arteries for longer period of time. Complication might include in- stent thrombosis, patients should intake blood thinners (anticoagulants) as Aspirin and other anticlotting drugs as prescribed by their physicians.

Many new second and Third generation stents storm the global medical market. The need for medicated stents has increased multifold (hit 19.76 billion by 2030).

Angioplasty and Recovery

It usually takes 2–3 weeks time to recover from angioplasty procedure after abed rest of 8–12 hours.

Avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting after angioplasty.
Moderate walking, climbing stairs and routine activities are advisable though to avoid overexertion and conditions that lead to shortness of breath and tiredness.
Eat healthy and low fat variety of food, milk and milk products. Eat egg whites instead of egg yolks to cut down on High cholesterol!
Walk slow and take plenty of rest to avoid exertions!