Angioplasty

Angioplasty is typically recommended for people who have narrowed or blocked arteries that are causing symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath. It may also be recommended for people who have had a heart attack or who are at high risk of having one.

Some specific conditions that may require angioplasty include:

• 1. Coronary artery disease: Angioplasty is commonly used to treat blockages in the coronary arteries, which are the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle. This condition can cause chest pain (angina) and increase the risk of heart attack.
• 2. Peripheral artery disease: Angioplasty may be used to treat blockages in the arteries of the legs, which can cause leg pain, numbness, and difficulty walking.

The process of angioplasty involves several steps:

• 1. Preparation: Before the procedure, the patient will be given medication to help them relax and a local anesthetic will be used to numb the area where the catheter will be inserted. The doctor will also use imaging techniques, such as X-rays or ultrasound, to locate the blockage and determine the best approach.
• 2. Catheterization: A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel, usually in the groin or arm, and guided to the site of the blockage. The doctor will use X-ray imaging to help guide the catheter to the correct location.
• 3. Balloon inflation: Once the catheter is in place, a small balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated to widen the narrowed or blocked area of the artery. This may be done multiple times to fully open up the artery.
• 4. Stent placement: In some cases, a small metal mesh tube called a stent may be placed in the artery to help keep it open. The stent is inserted on a balloon and expanded in place when the balloon is inflated. Once the stent is in place, the balloon is deflated and removed.