When a person hears the term “coronary intervention“, it can sound quite ominous. And while it is a relatively serious procedure, it is not as overwhelming as its name would imply. In times past, people would refer to coronary intervention as an angioplasty with a stent. Regardless of the name that is used, the procedure is performed using non-surgical means. A catheter is used to open up blood vessels in the heart that might be closing as a result of plaque accumulation.
The reason why coronary intervention is performed is pretty straightforward. If a person starts to develop plaque on blood vessels in their heart, these blood vessels are not going to be able to transmit blood as freely. As blood flow reduces, so does the amount of nutrients the body receives, and chest pain increases.
After the procedure, a person will experience a reduction in angina, they will feel better, they will have more energy and they will have a strong desire to be active again. In most cases, coronary intervention is not performed as an emergency procedure. Instead, it is something that is planned well in advance.
The procedure is performed by introducing the catheter into a blood vessel that is either in the forearm or in the groin. Then the catheter is directed through the artery with the help of a specialized type of X-ray. Once the catheter reaches the heart and the artery that has the plaque buildup, the tip of the catheter, which houses a balloon, is put into place. Then little by little the balloon that is covered with a stent begins to inflate.
Once the stent is in place and the artery has been sufficiently opened, the balloon is deflated, and it is removed through the same blood vessel that it entered into. The stent stays open and keeps the artery open.
Before the coronary intervention procedure, our medical experts are going to need to talk to you about your medical condition. They will have to know if you have asthma, if you use blood thinners, if you currently have diabetes or if you have a history of kidney problems. If you’re pregnant or think that you might be, this is something you will need to tell the medical professionals.
While the recovery time for coronary intervention is relatively brief, our medical professional may recommend that you take a few days to rest to completely recover and allow your body to adjust to the procedure.
To get all the facts about coronary intervention, set up a consultation at Cardiac Associates of North Jersey in Oakland. Our team of experts will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
