What is a Heart Stent Implantation Coronary Angioplasty?
In simple terms, balloon angioplasty with stent insertion is a procedure used to increase the amount of blood flowing through the coronary artery.
The heart is located in the center of the chest. Its job is to keep blood continually circulating throughout the body.
The blood vessels that supply the body with oxygen-rich blood are called arteries.
The arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself are called coronary arteries.
Sometimes, these blood vessels can narrow or become blocked by plaque deposits, restricting normal blood flow.
In simple terms, a balloon angioplasty with stent insertion is a procedure used to increase the amount of blood flowing through the coronary artery.
During a balloon angioplasty, a heart specialist will insert a thin tube into an artery in your arm or leg and gently guide it towards the problem area in your heart.
Once the tube is in place, a small balloon is briefly inflated in order to widen the narrowed artery.
A short length of mesh tubing called a stent is then inserted into the newly widened artery.
During and after the procedure, your doctor will take x-rays in order to monitor your progress.
Then the doctor will make a small cut over the femoral artery in the upper part of the leg.
A special needle is then inserted into the artery itself.
Then a guide wire is carefully passed through the needle and gently pushed into the artery and upwards towards your chest.
A narrow tube, called a catheter is threaded along the wire until it too has reached the coronary artery.
Next, the doctor uses the catheter to inject a dye into the artery itself. The die shows up on a TV monitor and is used to pinpoint the exact location of the blocked area.
Once the restricted area has been identified, a thin wire is inserted into the catheter, and is guided all the way to the blocked area and then slightly beyond.
This wire acts as guide for the balloon catheter. It allows your doctor to position the deflated balloon precisely in the middle of the narrowest part of the coronary artery.
The balloon is briefly inflated. As it expands, it squeezes the plaque deposits against the wall of the artery. It also stretches the artery wall and enlarges the channel through which blood flows.
Your doctor will continue to inflate and deflate the balloon until normal blood flow has been restored.
The balloon catheter is then withdrawn, and another balloon catheter is inserted. This balloon has the mesh stent tube wrapped around it.
Once this tube has been placed in the center of the now widened area of the artery, the balloon is briefly inflated. Then, the stent expands until it hugs the walls of the artery.
Finally, after a thorough investigation of the region, the catheters and guidewire are withdrawn. However, the stent remains permanently to provide support to the artery and resist the buildup of plaque.
The dye that had been injected will break up and leave your body as waste.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
I had off-pump CABG 5 years ago and it is one of the best things that ever happened to me. This advanced procedure was provided free of charge on the UK's National Health Service, and finding this on YouTube has reminded me that I have a debt to society which I have not been paying very well of late as my sugar and fat intake has gone up recently. Time to pull my socks up and make the most of this amazing second bite at life that I have been given.
Cardiac Catheterization Angiography
When we say radioactive material, that material is emitting radiation. But the source of radiation here is external meaning outside the patient (fluoroscopy). But there is radioactive material used in diagnosis and treatment that can be introduced intravenously and this is usually done under Nuclear Medicine. But still even though it is radioactive, it is being assured that the radiation dose can be tolerated by the body.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG off-pump)
I had off-pump CABG 5 years ago and it is one of the best things that ever happened to me. This advanced procedure was provided free of charge on the UK's National Health Service, and finding this on YouTube has reminded me that I have a debt to society which I have not been paying very well of late as my sugar and fat intake has gone up recently. Time to pull my socks up and make the most of this amazing second bite at life that I have been given.
