CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY’S QUESTIONS

AT WHAT LEVEL OF STENOSIS (NARROWING) SHOULD ANGIOPLASTY BE PERFORMED?

A stenosis which is more than 70% is considered significant. Hence lesions which are 70% or more are to be subjected to angioplasty.

CAN TOTALLY BLOCKED (100% OCCLUDED) ARTERIES BE ANGIOPLASTIED?

Yes (see figure below). However, the success rate of opening up of occluded arteries may sometimes be lesser than for those which are not totally blocked.

IS THE PROCEDURE PAINFUL?

No. However, you may experience slight discomfort on two occasions during the procedure:

1. When the local anaesthetic is administered, a needle prick is felt.
2. When the balloon is inflated in your coronary artery, the flow of blood in this artery is interrupted. At this time, you may experience heaviness in the chest, similar to the anginal pains you may have been experiencing. This pain is transient and disappears once the balloon is deflated.

IS THE EXPOSURE TO X-RAYS DANGEROUS?

No. The exposure you will receive is kept to the minimum. The apparatus shields the rest of your body from any unnecessary exposure.

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Cardio & Blood

• Medical therapy: treatment of angina pectoris - how do you increase the exercise tolerance ? how do you prevent infarction ?
  • Heart disease: origins of disease
• Medical therapy: treatment of angina pectoris
  • What happens after the angioplasty?
  • Heart diseases: diagnosis - no can do
  • How to live with high blood pressure
• Diagnostic investigations: clinical laborotarytests - special investigations - echocardiography & cardiac scintiscan
• Coronary angioplasty’s questions
• Heart disease prevention and cure: diagnosis
  • Coronary angioplasty notes for the family