What is Angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive surgical endovascular technique that is used to enlarge clogged or narrowed blood vessels surrounding the heart and restore natural blood flow. It's a common treatment for clogged or constricted arteries. Percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI, is the pathological name for angioplasty. ShopDoc offers a wide variety of best hospitals for Angioplasty treatment in Kerala.

When do we need Angioplasty Surgery?

Your doctor may recommend you to undergo an Angioplasty Surgery if you are having a potentially life-threatening event, such as a heart attack or unstable angina, which is defined as severe, worsening chest pain during activity or stress, or chest discomfort while at rest. Other symptoms include skin discoloration or slow healing of wounds and fatigue. Moreover, Angioplasty Surgery can only be performed after considering health factors like heart health, blood rate flow, medication, and location of the blockage.

Types of Angioplasty

There are several types of Angioplasty Surgery and the preferred method is chosen depending on the health condition of the patient. Some of the main types of Angioplasty procedures are :

- Balloon Procedure: In this procedure, a catheter with a small balloon at its tip is inserted into the heart artery. At the blockage the deflated balloon is inflated to open the blockage gradually, thereby increasing blood flow to the heart.

- Stent Placement in the heart: This procedure involves placing a small wire tube mesh in the blocked part of the artery. This mesh holds and opens the artery and thus it heals around the mesh.

- Rotablation Procedure: In this procedure, a specially shaped diamond-tipped catheter is guided into the blockage site of the artery. This catheter is rotated at high speed to disintegrate the plaque and it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

- Atherectomy of the artery: In this procedure, a hollow cylinder is used at the end of the catheter. The other side of the catheter has a deflated balloon. On reaching the blockage, the balloon is inflated and the cylinder has a blade that shaves the plaque. The shaved-off plaque is stored inside the cylinder.

- Cutting Balloon Angioplasty: This procedure involves the usage of the deflated balloon and tiny blades at the end of the catheter. On reaching the blockage, the inflation of the balloon activates the blades which cut the block. The block is then pushed down to the artery.

How angioplasty is done?

Your doctor will numb an area on your arms or at the groin and insert a small tube (catheter) into an artery by watching on a special X-ray screen until it reaches into a coronary (heart) artery. After that, very thin wire and a thin expandable balloon at the end is threaded through the catheter and passed across the blockage. Once the balloon is inflated it will stretch the artery open and push the plaque to the side, so blood can flow more easily.

In most of the patients, a collapsed wire mesh tube (stent) is mounted on a special balloon and moved over the wire to the blocked area. When the balloon is inflated, it will open the stent against the artery walls which will lock in that position and will help keep the artery open.

Pre-angioplasty guidelines

- Your doctor may direct you to stop taking certain medications before angioplasty surgery, such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or blood thinners.

- You may have to fast, six to eight hours before the procedure

- Notify your doctor if you have any piercings on your chest or abdomen

- If you have any heart valve diseases, then you may be directed by the doctor to take antibiotics.

- The area around catheter insertion may be shaved.

Post angioplasty guidelines

- After the surgery, the patients are advised to drink plenty of water.

- Consult your doctor immediately, if you have any symptoms similar to those you had before the procedure.

- Maintain a healthy weight and at the same time consume a balanced diet that is low in saturated fat.

- Control other physical conditions like blood sugar and cholesterol. Take all the medications prescribed by the doctor.

Risk of Angioplasty

- Main risks associated with Angioplasty include bleeding or clotting at the insertion site.

- Arrhythmia, the condition of having irregular heart beat. This causes the heart to beat too fast, too slow, too early or too erratically.

- Kidney damage, especially in hose people who are already having kidney problems.

Angioplasty - FAQs

1) Is angioplasty a major surgery?

Angioplasty is not a major surgery. During the angioplasty surgery, the patient is usually conscious or moderately sedated.

2) Is angioplasty dangerous?

Like all other surgeries, angioplasty has complications. But the risk factors of having serious problems are very small. 

3) What is the cost of angioplasty in India?

In India, angioplasty can cost around 1.2 to 1.6 lakhs. However the cost can vary according to different hospitals.

4) How long does Angioplasty last?

Angioplasty Surgery generally takes 30 minutes 2 hours. But in some cases, it may take longer, depending on the complexities involved.

5) How long does it take to fully recover from angioplasty?

Usually, the recovery period after angioplasty surgery is about two weeks. But it depends on your health conditions and other factors.