What to Expect
Your physician makes a tiny puncture to access an artery in the leg. Through the incision, a guide wire is inserted in the artery. A short hollow tube (catheter sheath) is then guided over the wire, which is guided to catheter through the arterial system to the site where angioplasty is needed. The balloon catheter is passed through the guide catheter or over the guide wire to the point of blockage in the artery and is inflated. The balloon may be deflated and re-inflated until the blockage is flattened and the artery has been adequately opened.
After angioplasty, physicians often insert drug-coated stents to prevent the artery from collapsing or being closed by plague again.
To place a stent, a new stent carrying catheter is advanced through the artery to the site of the blockage. The balloon is inflated, expanding the stent. The balloon is then deflated and the catheter withdrawn, leaving the stent in place permanently.
Angioplasty and stenting takes between 45 minutes and 2 hours to complete.

Pre-Treatment Guidelines
Before the procedure, your physician may order tests including:
· An x-ray
· An electrocardiogram (EKG)
· Blood tests
You may also be asked to:
· Avoid eating or drinking after midnight on the night before the procedure
· Take any medications the physician orders in connection with the procedure
· Notify his or her physician of any allergies to iodine, which is used in contrast dye for some x-ray tests.
· Bring a detailed list of your medications to the hospital
Post-Procedure Guidelines and Care
You’ll be asked to remain in bed for 6 to 24 hours following the procedure. During the post- operative period, you will be closely monitored for any complications. Your physician may prescribe aspirin or Plavix to prevent blood clots. Follow-up blood tests may also be ordered to monitor your progress.
Other guidelines to follow after angioplasty or catheterization include:
· Avoid lifting more than 5 to 10 pounds for the first few days
· Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids for 2 days unless otherwise instructed
· Avoid showering for 24 hours
· Avoid baths for a few days, especially if a collagen plug is used to seal the artery
· Read the instruction sheet from the hospital. Make sure to follow all instructions given by doctors and hospital staff.
Your physician may also prescribe a cardiac rehabilitation exercise program, such as walking
Possible Complications
Complications are rare. Some possible complications include:
· External bleeding or hemorrhage in the site of catheter insertion
· Allergic reaction to the contrast dye used to see the blood vessels
· Plague material or blood clots dislodging and floating downstream, leading the blockage beyond the treated area
· Rarely, artery thrombosis, or stoppage of blood flow caused by the formation of a blood clot in the treated are, causing a stroke or heart attack.
Stents coated with drugs help fight the scar tissue and clots that can form inside a stent. Drug-coated stents have been shown to reduce restenosis, or re-narrowing of the artery in certain blockages, which can reduce the number of repeat procedures. Bare metal stents are almost as effective and may be chosen if a drug coated stent cannot reach the site of the blockage.
If you experience any of the following symptoms immediately following angioplasty should call your doctor as soon as possible:
· Chest pain
· Persistent or worsening leg pain
· Fever
· Shortness of breath
· A leg that turns blue or cold
· Bleeding, substantial swelling, pain, numbness, redness, or drainage where the catheter was inserted.
Never stop any of the hospital prescribed medications before talking to our office nurses.
About Cardiac Catheterization
As people age, plague in the form of cholesterol buildup can accumulate in the blood vessels of the heart, narrowing the space through which blood must flow. Angioplasty is a procedure during which a physician inflates a small balloon inside a blood vessel to press against and flatten the plague, re-opening the artery. The goal of angioplasty is to restore adequate blood flow (revascularization) through the affected blood vessel.
To prevent the newly opened blood vessel from collapsing or being narrowed or closed by plague again, a physician inserts a stent, a tiny, expandable metal-mesh tube that fits inside an artery that has been widened by angioplasty.

The physicians at Columbus Cardiology Associates are dedicated to quality cardiovascular healthcare to our patients and the community we serve thru skilled talented staff, utilizing the most innovative technology. Please call our office at 706-323-5552 to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions.