Angioplasty, a lifesaver for people with heart disease

Coronary angioplasty is a procedure to open a blockage or narrowing of the heart arteries. After undergoing angioplasty, the life expectancy of someone who has had or is at risk of having a heart attack can be increased and the risk for subsequent heart attacks can be reduced. Angioplasty aims to increase blood flow to the heart. This mechanism is carried out by inserting and inflating small balloons in the blocked arteries to help expand the canal. This procedure is actually common in the management of heart disease, especially in patients over 65 years. Angioplasty is often combined with the placement of small wire tubes called stents or rings. Some types of rings are coated with drugs that will help keep blood flow in the blood vessels open. Installation of the ring aims to open the walls of blood vessels and prevent them from narrowing again.

Role of Angioplasty

In general, angioplasty is a procedure performed to treat the following health problems.

• Atherosclerosis

To improve the blockage of blood flow to the heart in patients with atherosclerosis, which symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. Atherosclerosis is hardening of the walls of blood vessels that occur due to accumulation of fatty plaque. Angioplasty is done if lifestyle changes or medications do not help relieve symptoms.

• Heart attack

Can be done when a heart attack occurs to open a blockage of heart arteries and reduce the risk of damage to the heart.

How Is Angioplasty Performed?

Medical history, physical examination results and supporting examinations will be considered by doctors before this procedure is performed. The patient will undergo a coronary angiogram to find out the exact location of the narrowing of the arteries and know for certain that the narrowing or blockage that occurs can be treated with angioplasty. Angioplasty is done through cardiac catheterization, by making a small incision in the skin of the leg, arm or wrist, so that a small catheter can be inserted into a vein into a blocked or narrowed heart artery. The balloon at the end of the catheter will be inflated and deflated several times in the blood vessels, until the walls of the vessels actually expand. Then the catheter is removed. Chest pain can occur during the angioplasty process because when a balloon is developed, blood flow to the heart is slightly obstructed. During the procedure, the patient will be sedated but remain conscious and the heart recording device will monitor the patient's heart rate. After the angioplasty process is finished, the patient's heart will be monitored in the hospital for some time, so the patient must undergo hospitalization. When allowed to go home, patients are usually advised to drink lots of water and avoid strenuous activities. Always try to take prescribed medicines, such as aspirin and the like. The patient should immediately see a doctor if: the area where the catheter is inserted feels pain, becomes red, swollen, feels hot, or is bleeding. Likewise if you experience shortness of breath, chest pain, or feel weak. This procedure cannot be performed on all people who experience heart disease. Some people who experience the following conditions are advised not to undergo angioplasty:

• Narrowing occurs in the main blood vessels that carry blood to the left heart.
• Weak heart muscle.
• Suffer more than one disease that attacks blood vessels.
• Suffering from diabetes.
• There is more than one blockage of blood vessels.

In the above situation, it is better to do a heart bypass surgery (coronary bypass surgery), which is an operation performed to create a new channel using blood vessels from other parts of the body, so that blood flow to the heart returns smoothly.

Angioplasty Also Has Risk

Although considered to be able to save patients with heart disease, angioplasty also has risks, namely:

Recurring narrowing of the arteries. Angioplasty that is performed without a ring (stent) can cause this chance up to 30 percent.
• Blood clots can form on the ring after the action is finished. This blood clot can clog heart arteries and cause heart attacks.
• Bleeding in the leg or arm at the catheter location is inserted.
• Heart attack while undergoing the procedure.
• Kidney disorders due to contrast agents used during angioplasty and ring installation, especially in people who already have kidney problems.
• Damage to heart arteries during the procedure.
• Plaque can escape from the walls of blood vessels when the catheter enters the blood vessels, and clogs blood vessels in the brain, causing strokes.
• A heartbeat that is too fast or too slow when undergoing angioplasty.
• An allergic reaction to the contrast material used in the procedure.
• Death from a heart attack or stroke.

Underwent angioplasty does not mean that heart disease has disappeared. This will reduce the symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain, but can still reappear at any time. If angioplasty is able to cope with heart problems, there is no need to do a heart bypass operation that requires a large incision in the chest and a longer recovery stage. So that you do not need to undergo angioplasty, it is important to maintain health by stopping smoking, maintaining ideal body weight, lowering cholesterol levels, and exercising regularly.