Coronary artery Balloon Angioplasty series

NORMAL ANATOMY

The coronary arteries supply the blood to the heart muscle. The right coronary artery supplies both the left and the right heart portion; the left coronary artery supplies the left heart portion or the right coronary artery supplies the blood to the right portion of heart.

INDICATION

Fat and cholesterol accumulates on the inside of arteries (atherosclerosis). The small arteries of the heart muscle (the coronary arteries) can be narrowed or blocked by the accumulation of fat and cholesterol. If the narrowing is small, per cutaneous translational coronary angioplasty, or PT CA for short, may be the course for treatment. PT CA is a rear invasive procedure to open up blocked coronary arteries,or allowing blood to circulate unobstructed to the heart muscle. The indications for PT CA are Persistent chest pain (angina)Blockage of only one or two coronary arteries

PROCEDURE

When the patient is awake and pain-free (local anesthesia), a catheter is inserted into an artery at the top of the leg (the femoral artery). The procedure begins with the doctor injecting some local anesthesia into the groin area and putting a needle into the femoral artery, Once the needle is inserted, a guide wire is placed through the needle, into the blood vessel. Following this step, the guide wire is left in the blood vessel and the needle is to be removed. A large needle called an introduce is then placed over the guide wire and the guide wire is removed.

AFTERCARE,PART

This procedure would be greatly improved the blood flow through the coronary arteries and to the heart tissue approx 90% of patients and may eliminate the need for coronary artery bypass surgery. The outcome is relief from chest pain symptoms and an improved exercise capacity. In 2 out of 3 cases, the procedure is considered successful with complete elimination of the narrowing or blockage.Immediately after the procedure, a ten-pound sandbag may be placed over the femoral artery puncture site in the leg and remain there for 6 hours. This is done to help the artery heal.