What is Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty?
A procedure to open narrowed (stenosis) or blocked (obstructed) blood vessels (coronary arteries) of the heart muscle (myocardium). While the patient is awake and pain-free (local anesthesia), a doctor inserts a catheter with a deflated balloon at its tip into an artery at the top of the leg (the femoral artery) through the aorta, and into the narrowed part of the coronary artery using x-ray pictures to view the catheter as it is passed through the arteries. The balloon is inflated, compressing the plaque and enlarging the inner diameter of the blood vessel so blood can flow more easily. Then the balloon is deflated and the catheter removed. It’s a less traumatic and less expensive alternative to bypass surgery for some patients with coronary artery disease.

What are the indications?
The indications are persistent chest pain (angina) and blockage of only one or two coronary arteries

What can I expect after surgery?
This procedure can greatly improve the blood flow through the coronary arteries and to the heart tissue in about 90% of patients and may eliminate the need for coronary bypass graft. The outcome is relief from chest pain symptoms and an improved exercise capacity. In 2 out of 3 cases, the procedure is considered successful with complete elimination of the narrowing or blockage. This procedure treats the condition but does not cure the cause and recurrences happen 1 out of 5 cases. Patients should consider diet, exercise, and stress reduction measures. The hospital stay is less than 3 days and sometimes hospital stay is not required. Complete recovery takes less than a week.

What are the risks?

• Risks for any procedure requiring anesthesia are reactions to medications and problems breathing.
• Risks for any surgery may include bleeding and infection. Additional risks include complete obstruction of blood flow to an area of the heart (a small risk, less than 3%; a heart surgery team is on standby); damage to a valve or blood vessel; and blood clot.