Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) is a surgical procedure to open up the blockages in the coronary arteries. This procedure uses minimal invasive methods to improve the flow of blood and allow it to circulate to the heart muscle.
Coronary Angioplasty is a type of cardiac surgery performed on heart patients who require emergency treatment. Most patients need to undergo coronary angioplasty surgery after a heart attack. Blockages in your heart can mess up with its functionalities, obstructing the flow of blood. This leads to occurrence of heart attack. At such times, patients need immediate medical assistance.
Blockages in your blood vessels can be due to many reasons like atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis develops when plaque builds up on the inner wall of the arteries. This hardens and narrows the arteries, often causing coronary artery disease.
PTCA procedure involves inserting a tiny balloon in your arteries. This balloon when reaches the blocked artery area, is inflated to open and widen the artery. In some surgical procedures, PTCA method is combined with insertion of stent. A stent is a small wire tube that helps to keep the artery open. This surgical approach is less invasive as compared to other approaches.
PTCA can be recommended for people with blockages in the coronary arteries, especially when they are experiencing heavy chest pain and discomfort. It can also be performed on patients who are under medications but do not show any positive results. Other eligible candidates for this surgery include patients who have had a heart attack.
Before Angioplasty Surgery, your doctor will ask you to stay hungry for some specific period of time. Surgery procedure will be carried out under the influence of local anesthesia. After undergoing the surgery, you will be asked to get complete bed rest for some days. Follow all the measures suggested by your doctor for a better recovery.