Angioplasty (Stent Implantation)

What is angioplasty (stent implantation)?

Angioplasty is a procedure to increase blood flow through an artery. Keyhole surgery is used to place a small balloon (catheter) where the blood vessel is narrowed or blocked. When the balloon is inflated, the blood vessel opens and allows blood to flow again naturally. Angioplasty is done using a CT coronary angiogram, a special kind of x-ray that shows the arteries live on a screen. 

Why do I need angioplasty?

We perform angioplasty when a narrowed artery is putting your heath at risk. When the blood supply is reduced, the surrounding tissues are affected by the lack of oxygen. Angioplasty is most commonly performed on the arteries that supply blood to the heart – the coronary arteries – either to relieve symptoms of angina or restore healthy blood flow after a heart attack. Other areas treated by angioplasty include the renal artery to the kidney, the carotid arteries in the neck and arteries to the legs.

What is involved in the procedure?

Before angioplasty surgery, you’ll be given full information about any preparation needed. For example, you might need to stop taking certain medicines that can thin the blood and cause bleeding.

 During the procedure, you’ll be given a sedative to help you relax, then local anaesthetic in the skin near an artery, usually in the groin. We use a special dye with the angiogram (x-ray) that shows up on the screen. This dye is injected into the artery after the anaesthetic.   

For the angioplasty, we insert a thin wire into the artery to guide the balloon catheter to the narrowing. The balloon is then inflated to stretch the artery before being removed. For an artery supplying the heart, we place a stent – a small wire mesh tube – into the artery to help keep it open after the procedure. 

The entire procedure usually takes 30-60 minutes. 

What will my recovery be like?

After your surgery, you may need to stay in hospital overnight, sometimes longer if it was an emergency angioplasty. There may be some pain or bruising at the insertion site. Most people quickly go back to their normal (moderate) activity. 

What are the risks of angioplasty? 

There are risks with any surgical procedure but angioplasty is generally regarded as safe. Some people have allergic reactions to the dye used but we will discuss all the risks beforehand to ensure you are comfortable with going ahead with the surgery.