Coronary angioplasty is a medical procedure used to treat coronary disease. In this procedure, a small inflatable tube is used to widen a narrowed or blocked artery that supplies blood to the heart.
This procedure is usually done in a hospital and requires local anesthesia or conscious sedation. The patient is positioned on an operating table and a catheter is inserted through the femoral artery (located in the groin) or radial artery (located in the wrist) and guided into the heart. Contrast dye is used to help the doctor see the blood flow in the coronary arteries through an X-ray machine called an angiogram.
Once the catheter reaches the blocked or narrowed artery, a small balloon is inflated at the tip of the catheter. This widens the artery and restores normal blood flow to the heart. In some cases, a stent (a metal tube) may be placed in the artery to keep it open after angioplasty.
Coronary angioplasty usually takes between one and two hours. After the procedure, the patient is observed for several hours to make sure there are no complications. If a stent was placed, a blood-thinning medication may be prescribed to prevent clots from forming in the stent.
Coronary angioplasty is a safe and effective procedure to treat coronary disease. However, as with any medical procedure, there are some risks, including bleeding, infection, and damage to the coronary arteries.
In summary, coronary angioplasty is a common medical procedure used to treat coronary disease. It involves inflating a small balloon into a blocked or narrowed artery to restore normal blood flow to the heart. If you have any further questions or concerns about coronary angioplasty, please consult your doctor or cardiology specialist.