Question

Raman was hospitalized for chest discomfort and pain. Doctors advised him angioplasty. What is the process? Why do you think is it required.

Answer 1

Angioplasty

Angioplasty is the process in which a narrowing of a blood vessel is corrected. Any accessible blood vessel in the body can be treated using angioplasty, but we will follow a patient through a heart angioplasty, as it involves a little bit more care during the procedure and recovery time afterwards. Angioplasty uses a balloon catheter. The initial part of the procedure is much the same as an angiogram, or x-ray. The patient goes into a procedure room where he or she is hooked up to heart, oxygen, and blood pressure monitors. Patients may receive medications to help them relax.

Why do we need it?
People with blockages in their heart arteries may need
angioplasty if they are having lots of discomfort in
their chest, or if their blockages put them at risk of a
heart attack or of dying.


How is it done?
1. A doctor numbs a spot on your groin or arm and
inserts a small tube (catheter) into an artery.
2. The catheter is threaded through the arterial system
until it gets into a coronary (heart) artery.
3. Watching on a special X-ray screen, the doctor moves
the catheter into the artery. Next, a very thin wire is
threaded through the catheter and across the blockage.
Over this wire, a catheter with a thin, expandable
balloon on the end is passed to the blockage.
4. The balloon is inflated. It pushes plaque to the side
and stretches the artery open, so blood can flow
more easily. This may be done more than once.
5. In many patients a collapsed wire mesh tube (stent)
mounted on a special balloon, is moved over the
wire to the blocked area.
6. As the balloon is inflated, it opens the stent against
the artery walls. The stent locks in this position and
helps keep the artery open.
7. The balloon and catheters are taken out. Now the
artery has been opened, and your heart will get the
blood it need