Angioplasty

Your provider will give you specific instructions for preparing for the procedure. They’ll also go over your medications and health history. In general, your provider will likely:

• Tell you to not eat or drink anything except water (fast) for eight hours before the test
• Adjust your medications (especially if you take anticoagulants)
• Ask if you’ve had an allergic reaction to contrast dye or anesthesia before
• Ask if you’re pregnant

For your safety, you won’t be allowed to drive yourself home on the same day of the procedure. You should figure out transportation from the hospital if you’re going home the same day. You may need to stay overnight at the hospital.

In general, you can expect the following during angioplasty:

1. You change into a medical gown and lie on your back for the procedure.
2. A healthcare provider gives you medicine that makes you feel relaxed (a sedative) through an IV. But you’ll still be awake enough to follow instructions.
3. Certain monitors will keep track of your vital signs, like your pulse and oxygen levels, during the procedure.
4. A provider gives you local anesthesia to numb the area where they’ll access an artery. This is usually in your groin or arm. You may feel pressure in this area during the procedure, but you shouldn’t feel pain.
5. A provider accesses a blood vessel with a needle. They slide a sheath (or tube) over the needle and into a large artery.
6. They pass wires and catheters through the tube to the artery they’re targeting.
7. An X-ray machine rotates around you (called fluoroscopy). It allows the provider to see where the catheter is going from all angles.
8. Once your provider gets to the targeted artery, they put a special dye into the tube. They look at X-rays to watch the dye go through your artery. For a few seconds, you might feel flushed or like you need to pee.
9. The provider can find the blockage or narrowing of your artery with the imaging. They’ll cross the problem area with a guide wire. This allows the balloon-tipped catheter to pass over the wire.
10. Once across the blockage, they’ll briefly inflate the balloon. They may need to do this more than once.
11. The provider will look at more X-rays to see how much blood flow has improved.
12. They’ll usually then put in a permanent stent. Stronger than a balloon, the stent keeps the artery open after balloon removal.

After the procedure, the healthcare provider takes out the catheter. A provider will use a bandage to cover the place where the catheter went into your skin. They’ll put pressure on the site to stop or prevent any bleeding. You may need to lie on your back for a few hours if the catheter was in your groin.

A typical angioplasty procedure can take 30 minutes to two hours. You’ll then need to recover in the hospital afterward. Your healthcare provider can give you a better idea of what to expect for your overall hospital stay.

A typical angioplasty procedure can take 30 minutes to two hours. You’ll then need to recover in the hospital afterward. Your healthcare provider can give you a better idea of what to expect for your overall hospital stay.