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What to Expect from an Angioplasty
Angioplasty is a procedure to
improve blood flow through
the arteries of the heart. Your
doctor may suggest that you have
an angioplasty if tests show that you
have narrowed arteries, called coronary
artery disease. Having an angioplasty
can relieve your chest pain
and help prevent your arteries from
narrowing further. It also can help
prevent heart attacks and improve
your overall quality of life.
Sometimes, doctors use angioplasty
as an emergency treatment
for heart attacks. This procedure can
sometimes restore blood flow better
than clot-busting drugs. An angioplasty
also can limit damage to the
heart muscle and improve survival
after heart attacks.
At Jersey Shore University Medical
Center, cardiologists perform more
angioplasty procedures than any hospital
in the region. In fact, diagnostic
and interventional volume in its cardiac
catheterization lab is among the
highest in the New York metropolitan
area. "We are very focused on getting
patients into the cath lab quickly, and
have developed protocols with our
emergency medical experts and community
network to do so," states Matt
Bach, M.D., a cardiologist at Jersey
Shore. "This teamwork maximizes
our potential for the best outcome."
What happens
An angioplasty is a one- to two-hour
procedure performed while patients
are awake.
During an angioplasty, patients
receive local anesthesia, so they do not feel pain. Through a small incision,
a doctor inserts a fine tube, or
catheter, into the artery of the leg
or arm. The tube travels through
the body into the narrowed artery.
On the tip of the tube is a tiny balloon.
When the balloon inflates, it
pushes the artery open and flattens
deposits inside the arteries so blood
flows better. Then the doctor deflates
the balloon and removes the tube.
Sometimes, doctors use a laser on the
tip of the tube instead of a balloon to
open up an artery.
Patients typically stay in the hospital
for a few days. They may feel
some discomfort for a day or two.
Doctors often recommend a pain
medication. But patients who have a
fever or swelling, or bleeding where
the tube was inserted, are advised to
tell their doctor.
Restenosis
In some patients, arteries narrow
up again within three to six months after an angioplasty. If this happens,
they may need another angioplasty or
bypass surgery.
Researchers are studying new
ways to prevent this renarrowing,
called restenosis. One way is by
inserting a stent into the artery
during an angioplasty.
Dr. Bach further explains the
process: "We use stents to act as a
metal scaffold to keep an artery open.
Stents are mesh tubes made of metal,
often coated with medicines to prevent
narrowing from occurring. After
placing a stent, we work closely with
your doctor to recommend medication
that will help prevent your blood
from clotting, and to set up ways to
improve diet and exercise to further
reduce your risk of heart disease.
To learn about Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s heart services, or
for help finding a cardiologist, call the Meridian Health Line at 1-800-560-9990.
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