Angioplasty opens blocked or narrowed arteries, improving or restoring blood flow. Dr. Raveen R. Arora, MD, FACC, and his long-time staff offer personalized, comprehensive, cutting-edge cardiology care at his private practice in Anaheim, California. They recommend the angioplasty procedure for patients with blocked or narrowed arteries. Call today to schedule a consultation with the experienced and skilled board-certified cardiologist.
request an appointmentWhat should I know about angioplasty?
Angioplasty, also called balloon angioplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure that improves blood flow in an artery lined with too much plaque.
Plaque is made up of cholesterol, minerals, and waste substances that travel in your blood and stick to the walls of your arteries. Plaque builds up gradually to the point that it affects blood flow through the artery, causing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
Atherosclerosis can target any artery in the body, including the main arteries in the heart. When you have blockages or narrowing in the arteries of your heart, you have coronary artery disease (CAD). You’ve got a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
Angioplasty involves inflating a balloon in the affected area to open the blood vessel and restore blood flow. You might also receive a stent (mesh metal tube) to keep the vessel open.
I have coronary artery disease. Do I need angioplasty?
Dr. Arora takes a proactive and thorough approach to heart health. If you have CAD and experience chest pain during exercise (angina), Dr. Arora could recommend angioplasty.
What can I expect during angioplasty?
Most people have angioplasty at a catheterization lab (or cath lab), essentially a small operating room. Your provider inserts an intravenous (IV) line into your arm to give you a sedative that relaxes you.
Your doctor inserts a thin tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in your arm, wrist, or groin and advances it to the area that needs to be opened. Using X-ray-guided imaging and a contrast dye that highlights your blood vessels, your provider inflates the balloon inside the blocked artery.
The balloon flattens the plaque against the blood vessel wall, improving blood flow. The surgeon might place a stent to keep the artery open.
What happens after angioplasty?
You go to the recovery room for monitoring after angioplasty. Some patients spend the night at the hospital for continued monitoring.
Dr. Arora could prescribe blood thinners following your angioplasty to reduce the risk of blood clots. Most patients are back to most of their usual activities within a week.
Dr. Arora schedules regular follow-up visits to monitor your health and adjust your treatment plan.
Call Dr. Raveen R. Arora, MD, FACC, today for attentive, patient-centered cardiology care.