Coronary angioplasty, also known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is a minimally invasive procedure used to open narrowed or blocked arteries of the heart. A tiny balloon is inflated inside the artery to widen it, and a small wire mesh tube called a stent is usually placed to help keep the artery open.
It is used to treat coronary heart disease, and is also an important treatment during a heart attack, when blood flow to the heart needs to be restored urgently. Your cardiologist will assess your condition and explain whether angioplasty is suitable for you.
Coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with blood and oxygen. When fatty deposits called plaque build up in these arteries, they narrow and blood flow is reduced. Angioplasty may be recommended when:
Angioplasty is one of several treatment options, which also include medicines and bypass surgery. Your doctor will discuss which is most suitable for you, based on your condition and overall health.
A stent is a tiny wire mesh tube that is left permanently inside the artery. It helps to hold the artery open and reduces the chance of it narrowing again. There are two types.
You will be asked to lie on your back on an x-ray table and will be connected to a heart monitor. A local anaesthetic will be given to numb your skin and an intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into a vein in your arm for you to receive pain medications and sedatives so that you will be more comfortable during the procedure.
A small incision will be made in the skin of your groin, wrist or arm, over an artery where your pulse can be felt. A small tube called a sheath will be inserted into the artery to keep it open during the procedure.
A catheter is passed through the sheath and guided along the artery into the opening of your left or right coronary artery. A thin, flexible wire is then passed down the inside of the catheter to where a small balloon is passed into the narrowed area and inflated to widen the walls of the artery.
You may experience some chest pain while the balloon is inflated but it will stop when the balloon is deflated. A stent will be inserted and left inside your artery after the balloon is deflated and removed.
Your artery is checked to ensure that it is wide enough to allow blood to flow through more easily by the injection of a contrast dye to monitor how it flows through the artery.
The sheath is left in place for a few hours or overnight before being removed. You wil be monitored for any pain or bleeding.
You will rest in a recovery room until you are well enough to go home. You may feel some pain where incisions were made but any discomfort should improve within a few days with prescribed painkillers. Antibiotics will also be prescribed to prevent and reduce the risk of an infection after surgery.
Should you feel unwell or experience pain or bleeding, contact your doctor immediately or call our 24-HR Medical Urgency Clinic at (65) 6705 2999.
Angioplasty opens the narrowed artery, but it does not remove the underlying cause of coronary heart disease. Healthy habits help to protect your arteries over the long term.
