Coronary Angioplasty

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Clare Norton
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Coronary Angioplasty WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Coronary Angioplasty (AN-g-o-plas-tee) is a procedure to open one or more small arteries in your heart. It is also called a "PTI" or "PCI".

Plaque (plak) is a mixture of fat and cholesterol. When plaque builds up on the inside walls of the coronary arteries, they become clogged or blocked.

1 Coronary Angioplasty WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Coronary Angioplasty (AN-g-o-plas-tee) is a procedure to open one or more small arteries in your heart. It is also called a "PTI" or "PCI". "PCI" or "PTI" means percutaneous (per-q-tane-e-us) transluminal (trans-lew-mih-null) intervention (n-ter-ven-shun). The arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle are called coronary arteries. Plaque (plak) is a mixture of fat and cholesterol. When plaque builds up on the inside walls of the coronary arteries, they become clogged or blocked. Your heart muscle may not get enough blood when this happens. Blocked arteries can cause chest pain called angina, heart disease, or a heart attack. Caregivers put a catheter (long, thin, bendable tube) into an artery, usually in your groin. The groin is the area between your abdomen (belly) and the top of your leg. Caregivers gently thread (push) the catheter up to your heart. They use dye and x-rays to find the blocked arteries. Your caregivers may do one or more procedures to open up your blocked arteries. They may use a balloon-tipped catheter. During this procedure, caregivers inflate (blow up) a tiny balloon on the tip of the catheter. The inflated balloon flattens (pushes) plaque against the artery walls. This opens them up and causes more blood to go to the heart muscle again. Caregivers may put in a stent to keep the artery open and plaque from building up again. A stent is a tiny mesh tube or coil. Sometime caregivers do an atherectomy. They may use a catheter with a tiny drill tip to get rid of plaque. Caregivers may vaporize (melt away) plaque with a laser light. A PCI may cause chest pain to go away and decrease the need for bypass surgery. You may go home 1

2 or 2 days after your PCI. CARE AGREEMENT: You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. RISKS: There are risks in having a PCI. An artery in your heart could become completely closed or have a spasm. If this happens, your heart would not get enough blood. This could cause chest pain or a heart attack. You might need heart surgery right away to bypass (go around) the bad artery. You may get a blood clot in your leg or arm. This can cause pain and swelling, and it can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs or brain. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. A blood clot in your brain can cause a stroke. These problems can be life-threatening. Fluid could build up in your lungs and cause trouble breathing. You could also have an allergic reaction or kidney problems caused by the dye. Your arteries could become blocked again after the PCI. If your arteries become blocked again, you may need another PCI or heart surgery to fix them. Caregivers will watch closely for these problems. If you do not have a PCI, your problem could get worse. You could have a heart attack and die. Call your caregiver if you have questions about your care. GETTING READY: The Week Before Your PCI: Talk about your medicines and allergies with your caregiver. Tell your caregiver if you have bleeding problems. If you take blood thinner medicine, you may be asked to stop taking it 2 to 3 days before your PCI. Ask your caregiver before you stop taking this or any other medicine. Tell your caregiver about all your medicines before a PCI. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and vitamins. Tell your caregiver if you are taking drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction. If you are diabetic or have blood sugar problems, ask your caregiver for special instructions. Your caregiver may want to change your diet or medicine before and after the PCI. A dye will be used during your PCI to let caregivers see your heart better. People who are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may also be allergic to this dye. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any of these. Go for tests.you may need blood tests before your procedure. Talk to your caregiver about these or other tests you may need. Write down the date, time and location for each test. Arrange family support. Ask a family member or friend to plan to stay with you after the PCI. They can help take care of your needs while you are lying flat in bed after the procedure. You will need them to drive you home when you leave the hospital.

3 The Day Before Your PCI: You may be admitted to the hospital the night before your PCI. You may need tests before your procedure. Talk to your caregiver about these or other tests you may need. Write down the date, time and location for each test. Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking. The Day of Your PCI: Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure. Ask caregivers before taking your medicines today. Ask your caregiver before taking any medicines on the day of the PCI. These medicines include insulin, diabetic pills, high blood pressure pills, or heart pills. Bring a list of your medicines or the pill bottles with you to the hospital. Wear your glasses, dentures, or hearing aids. Do not wear contact lenses the day of the PCI. You may wear your glasses. If you regularly wear dentures or hearing aids, wear them to the hospital. You should be able to keep them in during the PCI. Your caregivers may need for you to hear and talk to them clearly during the procedure. Bring personal belongings. If you are staying in the hospital overnight, bring your personal belongings with you. These include your bathrobe, toothbrush, denture cup (if needed), hairbrush, and slippers. Do not wear jewelry or bring money to the hospital. Take a full bath or shower before your PCI. Take a complete bath or shower and wash your hair before your PCI. You may not be able to fully bathe until a few days after the PCI. Make sure you have signed an informed consent. You or a close family member may be asked to sign a legal piece of paper (consent form). It gives your caregiver permission to do a PCI. Be sure all your questions have been answered before you sign this form. TREATMENT: What Will Happen: You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. You may be given medicine in your IV to help you relax or make you drowsy. You will be taken on a stretcher to the room where the PCI will be done. You may get medicine called local anesthesia that will numb the area where the catheter will go in. You will be awake during the PCI so that your caregivers can give you instructions. Caregivers may ask you to cough, hold your breath, or to tell them how you feel during the procedure. X-rays will be used with a TV screen to do the PCI. A catheter (long, thin tube with an empty balloon on the end) is put into an artery, usually in your groin. This is the area where your abdomen (belly) meets your upper leg. The catheter is gently threaded (pushed) into the artery. Caregivers will use x-rays and dye to find the place where the artery is blocked. You may feel warm as the dye is put into the catheter. Caregivers will use x-rays and dye to look at your artery after opening it. Caregivers may do one or more of the following to open up your arteries: Inflate a balloon-tipped catheter. Caregivers inflate (blow up) a tiny balloon on the tip of the catheter. The inflated balloon flattens (pushes) plaque against the artery walls. This opens

4 them up and helps more blood to go to the heart muscle again. Vaporize plaque with a laser light. Caregivers may vaporize (melt away) some of the plaque with a laser light. Put in a stent. A stent is a tiny mesh tube or coil. Caregivers may put a stent in your artery to keep plaque from building up again. Shave away plaque. Caregivers may use a catheter with a shaver or tiny drill tip to remove plaque from the arteries. Plaque may be suctioned away after it is shaved or drilled off the sides of the artery. After Your PCI:The catheter will be taken out of the artery and a tight pressure bandage will be put on. Caregivers will put pressure on the bandage with a sandbag to stop bleeding. You may have a collagen plug or stitches to stop the bleeding. It is very important to lie still and flat for 4 to 6 hours or longer after the PCI is over. This is to prevent bleeding. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is OK. Waiting Room:This is a room where your family can wait until you are ready for visitors after the PCI. Your caregivers will find them there to let them know how the PCI went. If your family leaves the hospital, ask them to leave a phone number where they can be reached. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Coronary Angioplasty Coronary Angioplasty (AN-g-o-plas-tee) is a procedure to open one or more small arteries in your heart. It is also called a "PTI" or "PCI". "PCI" or "PTI" means percutaneous (per-q-tane-e-us) transluminal (trans-lew-mih-null) intervention (n-ter-ven-shun). The arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle are called coronary arteries. Plaque (plak) is a mixture of fat and cholesterol. When plaque builds up on the inside walls of the coronary arteries, they become clogged or blocked. Your heart muscle may not get enough blood when this happens. Blocked arteries can cause chest pain called angina, heart disease, or a heart attack. Caregivers put a catheter (long, thin, bendable tube) into an artery, usually in your groin. The groin is the area between your abdomen (belly) and the top of your leg. Caregivers gently thread (push) the catheter up to your heart. They use dye and x-rays to find the blocked arteries. Your caregivers may do one or more procedures to open up your blocked arteries. They may use a balloon-tipped catheter. During this procedure, caregivers inflate (blow up) a tiny balloon on the tip of the catheter. The inflated balloon flattens (pushes) plaque against the artery walls. This opens them up and

5 causes more blood to go to the heart muscle again. Caregivers may put in a stent to keep the artery open and plaque from building up again. A stent is a tiny mesh tube or coil. Sometime caregivers do an atherectomy. They may use a catheter with a tiny drill tip to get rid of plaque. Caregivers may vaporize (melt away) plaque with a laser light. A PCI may cause chest pain to go away and decrease the need for bypass surgery. You may go home 1 or 2 days after your PCI. CARE AGREEMENT: You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. RISKS: There are risks in having a PCI. An artery in your heart could become completely closed or have a spasm. If this happens, your heart would not get enough blood. This could cause chest pain or a heart attack. You might need heart surgery right away to bypass (go around) the bad artery. You may get a blood clot in your leg or arm. This can cause pain and swelling, and it can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs or brain. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. A blood clot in your brain can cause a stroke. These problems can be life-threatening. Fluid could build up in your lungs and cause trouble breathing. You could also have an allergic reaction or kidney problems caused by the dye. Your arteries could become blocked again after the PCI. If your arteries become blocked again, you may need another PCI or heart surgery to fix them. Caregivers will watch closely for these problems. If you do not have a PCI, your problem could get worse. You could have a heart attack and die. Call your caregiver if you have questions about your care. GETTING READY: The Week Before Your PCI: Talk about your medicines and allergies with your caregiver.

6 Tell your caregiver if you have bleeding problems. If you take blood thinner medicine, you may be asked to stop taking it 2 to 3 days before your PCI. Ask your caregiver before you stop taking this or any other medicine. Tell your caregiver about all your medicines before a PCI. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and vitamins. Tell your caregiver if you are taking drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction. If you are diabetic or have blood sugar problems, ask your caregiver for special instructions. Your caregiver may want to change your diet or medicine before and after the PCI. A dye will be used during your PCI to let caregivers see your heart better. People who are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may also be allergic to this dye. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any of these. Go for tests.you may need blood tests before your procedure. Talk to your caregiver about these or other tests you may need. Write down the date, time and location for each test. Arrange family support. Ask a family member or friend to plan to stay with you after the PCI. They can help take care of your needs while you are lying flat in bed after the procedure. You will need them to drive you home when you leave the hospital. The Day Before Your PCI: You may be admitted to the hospital the night before your PCI. You may need tests before your procedure. Talk to your caregiver about these or other tests you may need. Write down the date, time and location for each test. Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking. The Day of Your PCI: Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure. Ask caregivers before taking your medicines today. Ask your caregiver before taking any medicines on the day of the PCI. These medicines include insulin, diabetic pills, high blood pressure pills, or heart pills. Bring a list of your medicines or the pill bottles with you to the hospital. Wear your glasses, dentures, or hearing aids. Do not wear contact lenses the day of the PCI. You may wear your glasses. If you regularly wear dentures or hearing aids, wear them to the hospital. You should be able to keep them in during the PCI. Your caregivers may need for you to hear and talk to them clearly during the procedure. Bring personal belongings. If you are staying in the hospital overnight, bring your personal belongings with you. These include your bathrobe, toothbrush, denture cup (if needed), hairbrush, and slippers. Do not wear jewelry or bring money to the hospital. Take a full bath or shower before your PCI. Take a complete bath or shower and wash your hair before your PCI. You may not be able to fully bathe until a few days after the PCI. Make sure you have signed an informed consent. You or a close family member may be asked to sign a legal piece of paper (consent form). It gives your caregiver permission to do a PCI. Be sure

7 all your questions have been answered before you sign this form. TREATMENT: What Will Happen: You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. You may be given medicine in your IV to help you relax or make you drowsy. You will be taken on a stretcher to the room where the PCI will be done. You may get medicine called local anesthesia that will numb the area where the catheter will go in. You will be awake during the PCI so that your caregivers can give you instructions. Caregivers may ask you to cough, hold your breath, or to tell them how you feel during the procedure. X-rays will be used with a TV screen to do the PCI. A catheter (long, thin tube with an empty balloon on the end) is put into an artery, usually in your groin. This is the area where your abdomen (belly) meets your upper leg. The catheter is gently threaded (pushed) into the artery. Caregivers will use x-rays and dye to find the place where the artery is blocked. You may feel warm as the dye is put into the catheter. Caregivers will use x-rays and dye to look at your artery after opening it. Caregivers may do one or more of the following to open up your arteries: Inflate a balloon-tipped catheter. Caregivers inflate (blow up) a tiny balloon on the tip of the catheter. The inflated balloon flattens (pushes) plaque against the artery walls. This opens them up and helps more blood to go to the heart muscle again. Vaporize plaque with a laser light. Caregivers may vaporize (melt away) some of the plaque with a laser light. Put in a stent. A stent is a tiny mesh tube or coil. Caregivers may put a stent in your artery to keep plaque from building up again. Shave away plaque. Caregivers may use a catheter with a shaver or tiny drill tip to remove plaque from the arteries. Plaque may be suctioned away after it is shaved or drilled off the sides of the artery. After Your PCI:The catheter will be taken out of the artery and a tight pressure bandage will be put on. Caregivers will put pressure on the bandage with a sandbag to stop bleeding. You may have a collagen plug or stitches to stop the bleeding. It is very important to lie still and flat for 4 to 6 hours or longer after the PCI is over. This is to prevent bleeding. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is OK. Waiting Room:This is a room where your family can wait until you are ready for visitors after the PCI. Your caregivers will find them there to let them know how the PCI went. If your family leaves the hospital, ask them to leave a phone number where they can be reached.

Coronary angioplasty and stents

Tests and Procedures Coronary angioplasty and stents By Mayo Clinic Staff Coronary angioplasty (AN-jee-o-plas-tee), also called percutaneous coronary intervention, is a procedure used to open clogged heart