A Balloon Angioplasty can also be used during a heart attack to quickly open a patient’s artery to reduce damage to the heart.
A specially designed catheter with a tiny balloon is carefully guided through the artery to the blockage, then inflated to widen the opening and increase blood flow to the heart. A stent is often placed during the procedure, to keep the artery open after the balloon is deflated and removed.
- The narrowing in the artery may be reduced, resulting in improved blood flow.
- Major complications are uncommon.
- You may be able to return to normal activities shortly after the procedure.
- The procedure is usually performed using local anaesthesia, which involves fewer risks than general anaesthesia
After the procedure, you may be taken to the recovery room for observation or returned to your hospital room. You will stay flat in bed for several hours after the procedure. A nurse will monitor your vital signs, the insertion site, and circulation and sensation in the affected leg or arm.