Angioplasty - Treatment of Angioplasty
What is Angioplasty?
Angioplasty is a procedure to treat coronary artery disease. It is not considered to be a type of surgery. Angioplasty involves flattening the fatty material (atheroma) that can build up inside the walls of the main blood vessels (arteries) to the heart causing them to narrow. This device widens the arteries and increases blood flow. Angioplasty has become quite common and relatively safe, and is far less intrusive than the open-chest operations that preceded it. Because of the rapidly changing techniques and the association of the term "angioplasty" with balloon inflation only, these heart procedures are now referred to as percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).
Angioplasty is used to treat:
- coronary artery disease (narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the heart).
- angina pectoris (chest pain).
- peripheral vascular disease (blocked arteries in the limbs, especially the legs).
- carotid artery disease (narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels in your neck.)
An area of your arm or groin will be cleaned and shaved. This is so the site will be sterile before the catheter is inserted. You also will have an intravenous (IV) line placed into a vein in your arm to deliver fluids and medications, and you will be given medicine to help you relax. The site on your arm or groin where the catheter will be inserted will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Then, the catheter will be inserted into a large blood vessel. The surgeon then guides the catheter by watching its movement on an X-ray.
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