What To Expect After Your Angioplasty Procedure 

The term angioplasty refers to the practice of placing a balloon in a narrow or blocked artery to increase blood flow. Because this is an invasive surgery, there are certain things that you will be advised to do or not do after your angioplasty procedure. In this post, we will go into what the procedure does, who is a candidate for it, and what to expect when you get home.

The Angioplasty Procedure 

An angioplasty is a procedure that is performed to increase blood flow in blocked arteries. It can restore blood flow to the heart without the need for open-heart surgery. 

A long, thin tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the blocked artery. Once it reaches the blocked or narrow artery, a tiny balloon on the tip of the catheter is inflated, pushing the blockage to the sides of the artery, increasing blood flow. 

Nearly always, when the angioplasty procedure is performed, a stent is also inserted. The stent is a small expandable mesh coil that keeps the artery open.

Who Is a Candidate for This Procedure?

Angioplasties are reserved for people with blocked or narrowed arteries. This includes people who have severe angina, coronary artery disease, or recently experienced a heart attack. It’s important to talk to your doctor to determine if this procedure is necessary for you. 

What to Expect After the Procedure 

An Angioplasty is a minimally invasive surgery, which means access to the affected area is gained through a small incision. Even though the procedure is minimally invasive, you will still be advised to not leave the facility for a few hours, or even overnight. This is just so that your physician can monitor you and make sure you aren’t experiencing any adverse effects. Because you will have been under anesthesia, you will need someone to drive you home when you are released. 

Once you are released from the facility, it is generally advised that you take a few days to recover before returning to work. For the next 24 hours, you shouldn’t exert yourself in any way so that you can give your body proper rest. This means you should not exercise or attempt to pick up any heavy objects.

It is important to remember to drink plenty of fluids so that you remain hydrated. Your body is in recovery mode so it will need all the help that it can get. After about a week, you should be ready to return to work and life as normal. Because everyone’s situation is different, always be sure to speak with your primary care provider to discuss your recovery plan.

Brookhaven Heart Can Perform Your Angioplasty Procedure 

If you are unsure whether or not you need an angioplasty procedure, reach out to the heart experts at Brookhaven Heart. If we determine that you could benefit from one of these procedures, one of our physicians will be able to perform it so that you can experience a higher quality of life. Give us a call today or fill out our online form so that we can keep your heart healthy!