Coronary angiography is done to visualise narrowed arteries. Coronary angioplasty, often combined with stenting, is a procedure done to open clogged heart arteries and keep blood vessels open. This is done as treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) – also known as atherosclerotic heart disease.

WHY DO I NEED IT?
The arteries in the heart can become narrowed by a build-up of plaque or cholesterol – otherwise known as atherosclerosis. When this happens, the blood flow to the heart is restricted, causing chest discomfort. If a blood clot blocks the blood vessel, the blood flow to the heart may be stopped, leading to a heart attack. In order to open up the narrowed vessels before they become occluded, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be advised by your cardiologist.

HOW IS IT DONE?
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) involves various procedures done in the setting of chest pain – be it stable chest pain (otherwise known as angina) or unstable chest pain (a heart attack or a suspected heart attack).

First, coronary angiography is done. Coronary angiography is a procedure that uses a special contrasting dye with x-rays to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart. The procedure itself involves a drip being placed in the patient’s wrist artery or groin vessel. Through this drip, a thin tube called a catheter can then be inserted directly into the blood vessels that supply the heart. Next, a dye is injected, and an x-ray is used to see how this dye moves through the coronary vessels. From here, your cardiologist can see whether there is a narrowing or a blockage that needs to be treated.

If a narrowed artery is found is usually treated by a procedure known as coronary angioplasty. Angioplasty is done by inserting a catheter into the affected blood vessel and inflating a tiny balloon in the vessel to widen and stretch the vessel open. This procedure thus opens blocked arteries and restores normal blood flow to your heart muscle. Thereafter, to ensure the blood vessel doesn’t narrow or collapse, coronary stenting is usually done.

A coronary stent is a device that looks like a spring that is placed into the blood vessel to keep it open. If treatment with a stent or stents is not possible, your cardiologist might advise bypass surgery.

WHAT ABOUT AFTERWARDS?
After the procedure, you usually need to stay in the hospital for a night or two for observation. If the angioplasty was done through the leg, you might need to lie down on your back for a few hours. If it was done through the arm, this wouldn’t be necessary. Blood thinners will then need to be taken after the procedure to prevent blood clots from forming on the newly placed stent.

These procedures will greatly increase the blood flow, and chest pain should go away afterwards, but this doesn’t mean your heart disease goes away. You will be advised by your cardiologist to live a healthy lifestyle, lower your cholesterol levels and maintain a healthy weight while continuing your medication.

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT