The method of ‘coronary angioplasty’ involves inserting a cardiac catheter, which is a soft tube with a tiny balloon at the tip, through the blood vessels at the groin or wrist. When the catheter reaches the narrowed area of the blood vessel, the balloon is connected to an external device to inflate it, pushing the fatty deposits and calcified plaques against the vessel walls to flatten them and widen the blood vessel. This allows blood to flow more freely to the heart muscle again.
Stent Placement for Treating Coronary Artery Narrowing
In cases where the doctor determines that the narrowed area is not sufficiently widened, a small coil called a Stent is inserted to attach to the vessel wall. In some cases, drug-eluting stents may be used instead of regular stents. These stents are coated with a polymer that slowly releases medication to the targeted area, which helps reduce tissue growth around the stent. This also enhances the effectiveness of vessel expansion, reduces risks and potential complications, and lowers the chance of restenosis. However, the choice of stent depends on the doctor’s discretion and the patient’s consent.
In cases where there is a large amount of fat and calcified plaque in the coronary arteries or the narrowing is very hard, the doctor may consider treatment using a high-frequency rotational atherectomy device called a “Rotablator.” This procedure can be performed immediately after coronary angiography or scheduled for a later time.
Indications for Balloon Angioplasty and Stent Placement Procedures
- Frequent chest tightness
- Narrowing of the coronary arteries
- Multiple narrowings in the coronary arteries, especially long narrowings in the proximal part of the coronary arteries
- Patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass surgery with narrowing in both the native vessels and the bypass grafts
