Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

Many middle-aged and old people are found to be suffering from coronary heart diseases. Coronary heart diseases are caused due to the narrowing or obstruction of the heart vessels. These heart vessels help supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscles, thus keeping heart muscles alive. The narrowing of the heart vessels or arteries is due to a build up of fatty deposits called plaque. With time, over the years, an unhealthy lifestyle leads to build up of plaque. Thus, leading to significant decrease in blood flow within the heart. This causes a number of coronary heart diseases to crop up in the patient. One of the most widely used treatment for opening these blocked arteries is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Let us go into the details of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedure in the following paragraphs.

What is PTCA?
The PTCA is also known simply as coronary angioplasty, balloon dilation or balloon angioplasty. When one suffers from a blocked artery, he/she is advised this non-invasive procedure instead of an open heart surgery. The blocked blood vessel is accessed through the skin and this is known as percutaneous. As the procedure takes place within the blood vessel it is called transluminal. The blood vessel is a coronary artery and therefore referred to as coronary. Finally, the term angioplasty means reshaping the blood vessel with the help of balloon inflation.

PTCA Procedure
As we have understood that percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) involves a procedure to open up the blocked coronary arteries. This helps in circulating the blood unobstructed through the heart muscles. When one undergoes this procedure, the doctor will give local anesthesia into the groin of the patient. This makes the patient feel no pain, as he remains conscious throughout the procedure. Then a needle is placed into the femoral artery, that runs down the leg. Using this needle, a guide wire is placed into the artery and the needle is removed. Now, an introducer is placed over the guide wire and the wire is removed. Instead of the wire, a different sized guide wire is placed in its place. A diagnostic catheter, that is a long narrow tube is introduced over the guide wire. This catheter is guided into the aorta with the help of a guide wire. Once the catheter is in place in the opening of one of the coronary arteries, the guide wire is removed.

Now, a dye is injected into the coronary arteries and that helps take an X-ray is taken. This helps the doctor find the block or blocks in the arteries. If the doctor feels the blocks are treatable, a guiding catheter is inserted in place of the first catheter. The balloon catheter is advanced into the blockage site and inflated. This helps compress the blockage. The balloon is inflated several times to help widen the passage. This procedure is carried out at various other sites of blockage. Then a stent may be placed to keep the coronary vessel open. A collapsed stent is advanced to the blocked site and inflated. A contrast media dye is injected and an X-ray taken. This helps the doctor see, if there is no blockage remaining. The catheter is removed and the procedure is complete.

PTCA Complications
With every procedure there are certain risks involved. The percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty complications include bleeding at the site of the catheter insertion. Sometimes a blood clot is formed or damage to the blood vessel occurs at the insertion site. Cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac dysrhythmias may occur. Some patients suffer from myocardial infarction, chest pain and discomfort. The coronary artery may rupture and one may have to be taken in for emergency open heart surgery. There is risk of infection due to the procedure. Sometimes, patients develop allergic reactions to the dye. There are other complications that may occur in individual patient.

Keep in mind, this procedure does not cure coronary heart diseases. A patient may develop a block again after 6 months of undergoing coronary angioplasty. The procedure requires a 24 hour hospitalization period. After you are discharged, you maybe called in for regular check ups. One should consult a doctor for more information regarding the procedure.