What is an angioplasty?

An angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that reopens a blocked artery so blood can flow freely. Using tubes called catheters, an interventional cardiologist inflates a balloon to push aside plaque, which is a mixture of fat and cholesterol, obstructing the artery. During the same procedure, they may also place a mesh tube called a stent to keep the artery open.

Los cardiólogos intervencionistas utilizan la angioplastia para restaurar el flujo sanguíneo en las arterias de todo el cuerpo. Estos médicos realizan con mayor frecuencia una angioplastia en las arterias del corazón, donde también se conoce como angioplastia coronaria, intervención coronaria percutánea (ICP) o angioplastia coronaria transluminal percutánea (PTCA).

También se puede realizar una angioplastia para volver a abrir las arterias periféricas en los brazos y las piernas, las arterias carótidas en el cuello y las arterias renales en los riñones.

Visualización de los vasos sanguíneos del corazón (vasos coronarios) en el monitor del laboratorio de rayos X.

Types of angioplasty

You may have one of two major types of angioplasty procedure—one that only uses a balloon or one that uses both a balloon and a stent.

Types of angioplasty include:

  • Balloon angioplasty: This type of angioplasty uses a balloon to move plaque out of the blood’s way but doesn’t involve placing a stent. These balloons may have a drug embedded on them (known as a drug-coated balloon or DCB) to reduce the risk of the blockage growing back (restenosis) in the artery that was treated.
  • Angioplasty with stenting: In this procedure, doctors use a balloon to reopen the artery and then place a drug-coated stent, which is a tiny, mesh-like tube coated with a medication, inside the body to help keep narrowed blood vessels open.

Why might I need an angioplasty?

Over time, plaque can build up on the walls of your arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease (CAD). The plaque can narrow or block the arteries and limit blood from getting through. As a result, you may develop a cardiovascular condition requiring an angioplasty, such as:

  • Angina: This symptom occurs when your heart doesn’t get enough blood. It can include chest, jaw or arm discomfort, or shortness of breath. It’s often a sign of coronary artery disease.
  • Carotid artery disease: Plaque may narrow or block the carotid arteries, which carry blood up your neck to your brain. This can cause stroke or transient ischemic attacks, sometimes called TIA or a “mini stroke”.
  • Enfermedad de la arteria coronaria: The most common form of heart disease, coronary artery disease narrows or blocks the arteries in the heart.
  • Ataque al corazón: This life-threatening emergency occurs when a sudden, complete blockage prevents the heart muscle from getting oxygen. In the case of a heart attack, doctors can perform an emergency angioplasty to quickly reopen a blocked coronary artery.
  • Peripheral artery disease: This disease occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries outside of the heart, usually in the legs, carotid arteries or kidneys.
  • Renal vascular hypertension: Narrowing of the kidney arteries due to plaque can cause Alta presion sanguinea and poor function in the organs.

How to prepare for an angioplasty

Es posible que no tenga tiempo para prepararse para una angioplastia si los médicos necesitan realizarla para tratar una emergencia médica, como un ataque al corazón. En ese caso, el equipo de cardiología intervencionista le preparará.

Si puede programar una angioplastia no urgente, puede prepararse de la siguiente manera:

  • Organice que un amigo o familiar lo lleve a su casa desde el hospital
  • Evite comer o beber durante seis a ocho horas antes del procedimiento
  • Informe a su médico de los medicamentos que toma y solo tome los que apruebe antes del procedimiento
  • Informe a su médico si está embarazada
  • Indique a su médico si tiene alguna alergia, especialmente si es alérgico a la anestesia o al tinte de contraste.
Un médico y un paciente hablan sobre cómo prepararse para una angioplastia

The angioplasty procedure

Your procedure will take place in the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab. The interventional cardiologist will access the blocked artery with a catheter placed from the wrist or groin, open it with a balloon and, if necessary, place a stent to keep plaque from blocking the blood vessel again.

An angioplasty may take up to two hours, although many require much less time. You may go home the same day. Alternatively, your doctor may decide if you should spend one or two nights in the hospital to give you more time to recover, especially if you had a heart attack.

What are the risks of an angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a safe, minimally invasive procedure. Like any procedure, though, angioplasty carries risks. Your interventional cardiologist and the rest of their team will do everything possible to minimize the risk of complications and ensure the safety of your procedure.

Potential risks of angioplasty include:

  • Allergic reactions: You may have an allergic reaction to the contrast dye or medications, which is why it’s important to disclose any allergies.
  • Artery damage: Angioplasty carries a low risk of damage to or tearing of the artery from insertion of the catheter.
  • Bleeding: Rarely, bleeding may occur from the incision site and require stitches or, in rare cases, a transfusion.
  • Blood clots: Blood clots may form at the stent or the catheter site, so you may take a blood thinner to prevent clotting.
  • Future blockages: Whether you have a balloon angioplasty alone or angioplasty with stenting, the procedure carries a small risk of a blockage reforming.
  • Heart attack: A blood clot, dislodged plaque or re-narrowing of the artery could rarely cause a heart attack.
  • Infection: Making an incision and inserting a catheter into a blood vessel carries the very small risk of infection.
  • Carrera: Plaque could break away or a blood clot could form and block blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke. This complication is extremely rare.

What to expect after an angioplasty

Después de la angioplastia, su médico comparará las imágenes de rayos X (angiograma) de su corazón antes del procedimiento con las imágenes posteriores al procedimiento. Esta comparación permite al médico evaluar el estado de la obstrucción después de la angioplastia y determinar qué tan bien fluye la sangre a través de la arteria.

Es posible que deba continuar con la atención de seguimiento con el cardiólogo intervencionista, su proveedor de atención primaria y su cardiólogo. Juntos, pueden ayudarle a controlar la enfermedad cardíaca y recomendar cambios en el estilo de vida saludable para reducir el riesgo de futuros bloqueos.

un médico y un paciente discuten la atención de seguimiento después de una angioplastia.

Preguntas frecuentes

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