During the Angioplasty/Stenting
Once in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab), you are assisted onto a firm, x-ray table. The room has an x-ray camera and several TV monitors. Medicine to relax you is given into the IV line. You may feel drowsy but usually you will be awake and comfortable during the procedure. The area around the puncture site is cleaned with a special soap that may feel cold. An anesthetic (numbing medicine) is injected into the area. A plastic tube called a "sheath" is inserted into the artery. The sheath is used to guide the catheter into place. This is not usually painful. You may feel pressure and mild discomfort at the puncture site. If needed, added numbing medicine is given.
After the sheath is in place, a catheter is guided up to your heart to the opening of the coronary arteries. Contrast is injected into the catheter and carried through the blood vessels. This lasts a few seconds. X-rays guide the catheter placement across the blockage. Then the balloon is inflated and the artery opening is expanded.
If a stent is used, it is mounted on the balloon. As the balloon is expanded, the stent is also expanded, and pressed against the wall of the blood vessel. The balloon may be inflated multiple times to insure that the stent is fully expanded. Once the stent is implanted, it cannot be removed from the blood vessel.
You may have some chest pressure or discomfort when the balloon is inflated. This is normal. The doctors and nurses will be talking to you during the procedure. If you feel any discomfort, let them know. Once the artery is opened, the balloon is deflated and the catheter is removed.
Contact
Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
(866) 662-8467
Cardiac Catheterization Department
(312) 926-5135
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Methods of Treatment
Before the Procedure
Day of the Procedure
During the Procedure
After the Procedure
Discharge Instructions
When to Call the Doctor
Recovery
Review Date: 04/07
