Coronary Angioplasty

About Coronary Angioplasty

Coronary angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to widen a narrowed or blocked coronary artery and restore blood flow to the heart muscle in patients with coronary artery disease. Under local anesthesia, a cardiologist threads a thin catheter through an artery in the wrist or groin up to the site of blockage, guided by live X-ray imaging, and inflates a small balloon to compress the plaque against the artery wall; in most cases a metal mesh stent is then left in place to keep the vessel open and reduce the chance of re-narrowing. It is typically recommended for patients with angina, reduced blood flow on a stress test, or as an emergency treatment during a heart attack to quickly reopen a blocked vessel. The procedure is done in a catheterization laboratory and usually takes under an hour, with most patients observed overnight and discharged within a day or two. India's cardiac centers perform high volumes of angioplasty using modern imaging and a wide range of stent options, and patients typically resume light activity within a week, with a cardiologist advising on medication and follow-up before returning home.