Angioplasty is known as a surgical procedure that is meant to wide open people’s blocked arteries. The result should be improved oxygen and blood flow to the patient’s heart. Throughout the procedure, the physician may often use a stent and insert it into your clogged artery in order to help it widen and stay open for longer periods of time. Based on the type of blockage, the doctor will be the one to decide if you need conventional angioplasty or stent angioplasty.

Starting the procedure

When the procedure will begin, the doctor will choose an artery and implant a catheter. Most of the times, he will opt for an artery in the groin area. Often times, the catheter can also be inserted in the elbow’s bend area. After the area is carefully selected, it will be scrubbed, disinfected, and probably shaved. Using some type of numbing medication, your doctor will numb the area getting ready for the procedure.

An introducer will be inserted as soon as the area is anesthetized. A hollow, plastic tube will be placed in the artery. The patient may possibly feel discomfort or some slight pressure when the introducer is being guided in the artery. Afterwards, the catheter will advance until it will go through the aorta and reach the coronary arteries. Each movement of the catheter will be viewed through an x-ray scan screen. The good news is that the patient won’t feel when the catheter will move through the blood vessels. However, it’s pretty normal to have a feeling of skipped heartbeats when the cath moves to the heart.



As soon as the catheter has reached the patient’s coronary arteries, dye will be injected. For about 30 seconds you’ll have a feeling of nausea when the dye will be introduced. On an x-screen the doctor will see exactly where the blockage has been installed due to that special dye that will be introduced. In order to examine the arteries from various angles, the dye injection may happen several times.

Right after the examination of your arteries, the cath will be repositioned towards the left side of your ventricle. When the dye is injected, you’ll feel once again a slight feel of nausea or about 20 seconds. The process is performed in order to see how your ventricle’s contractions and analyze that it functions properly.

If you want, the doctor will talk to you throughout the procedure, and he will explain each and every step of it. Your assistance will be required in order to analyze your responses. You might be asked to cough to move the dye towards the coronary arteries. In addition, you may have to hold your breath for 3-4 minutes in order for the picture to be taken and avoid as much blurriness as possible.

Make sure that throughout the coronary angioplasty procedure you let your doctor know if you happen to feel the following sensations:

  • Back or chest pain
  • Tense squeezing sensation between the shoulder blades or chest
  • Acute headache
  • Vision changes dizziness
Coronary Angioplasty

Procedure of Coronary Angioplasty


Angioplasty is known as a surgical procedure that is meant to wide open people’s blocked arteries. The result should be improved oxygen and blood flow to the patient’s heart. Throughout the procedure, the physician may often use a stent and insert it into your clogged artery in order to help it widen and stay open for longer periods of time. Based on the type of blockage, the doctor will be the one to decide if you need conventional angioplasty or stent angioplasty.

Starting the procedure

When the procedure will begin, the doctor will choose an artery and implant a catheter. Most of the times, he will opt for an artery in the groin area. Often times, the catheter can also be inserted in the elbow’s bend area. After the area is carefully selected, it will be scrubbed, disinfected, and probably shaved. Using some type of numbing medication, your doctor will numb the area getting ready for the procedure.

An introducer will be inserted as soon as the area is anesthetized. A hollow, plastic tube will be placed in the artery. The patient may possibly feel discomfort or some slight pressure when the introducer is being guided in the artery. Afterwards, the catheter will advance until it will go through the aorta and reach the coronary arteries. Each movement of the catheter will be viewed through an x-ray scan screen. The good news is that the patient won’t feel when the catheter will move through the blood vessels. However, it’s pretty normal to have a feeling of skipped heartbeats when the cath moves to the heart.



As soon as the catheter has reached the patient’s coronary arteries, dye will be injected. For about 30 seconds you’ll have a feeling of nausea when the dye will be introduced. On an x-screen the doctor will see exactly where the blockage has been installed due to that special dye that will be introduced. In order to examine the arteries from various angles, the dye injection may happen several times.

Right after the examination of your arteries, the cath will be repositioned towards the left side of your ventricle. When the dye is injected, you’ll feel once again a slight feel of nausea or about 20 seconds. The process is performed in order to see how your ventricle’s contractions and analyze that it functions properly.

If you want, the doctor will talk to you throughout the procedure, and he will explain each and every step of it. Your assistance will be required in order to analyze your responses. You might be asked to cough to move the dye towards the coronary arteries. In addition, you may have to hold your breath for 3-4 minutes in order for the picture to be taken and avoid as much blurriness as possible.

Make sure that throughout the coronary angioplasty procedure you let your doctor know if you happen to feel the following sensations:

  • Back or chest pain
  • Tense squeezing sensation between the shoulder blades or chest
  • Acute headache
  • Vision changes dizziness