Angioplasty is performed to widen a narrow coronary artery by implanting a tiny stent into the heart to keep the artery open. Around 66 percent of these procedures are performed in patients experiencing a life threatening event, including heart attack, unstable angina, worsening chest pain and chest pain that happens while resting.

Angioplasty improves quality of life and reduces mortality in millions of people with cardiovascular diseases, explain doctors at AMRI, best cardiology hospital in Kolkata. It restores blood flow to the heart of patients suffering from worsening angina and eases the pain within 15-20 minutes. Thereafter, a patient is often able to exercise longer than before.

On the other hand, a patient suffering from heart attack will be able to minimize the risk of having a second heart attack with angioplasty. Here is how the procedure is performed:

During angioplasty, a doctor inserts a catheter through a vessel in the femoral artery. After inserting a catheter into the blocked artery in the heart, a balloon expands at its tip. This automatically presses a wire-mesh stent into the artery wall.

Elective angioplasty

When a stress test suggests a possible blockade in the arteries of the heart, elective angioplasty is done to prevent the heart attack. However, if a patient does not have the symptoms, angioplasty is not necessary. In such cases, medical therapy is quite effective and affordable.

There are a few complications associated with angioplasty, which include bleeding at the catheter insertion site. It may also require blood transfusion in some cases, explain leading cardiologist at AMRI Hospital Ltd. 

Medical Treatment Options

If an active patient without symptoms undergoes a stress test and it reveals a narrowed artery, angioplasty may not reduce the risk of heart attack in such cases. On the other hand, if a patient experiences mild angina pain during exercise and the stress test reveals mild ischemia, medication becomes a reasonable option.

In order to lower heart rate and nitroglycerin levels to widen the blood vessels temporarily, a doctor may prescribe a beta blocker. It helps in improving mobility, enabling the patient to cover more distance every day.