Angioplasty is done to remove the obstruction of one or more coronary arteries, due to accumulation of fat deposits. This procedure helps to open the blocked coronary artery and helps to reduce the damage to the heart. 

The conditions where angioplasty is done are-

• Chest pain or unstable angina
• STEMI ( ST elevated Myocardial Infarction, which is a severe type of heart attack)
• NSTEMI ( Non- ST elevated Myocardial infarction, a common and less severe type of heart attack )
• Coronary artery perforation
• Coronary artery blockage

The diagnostic tests done before Coronary Angioplasty are-

• CBC (Complete Blood Test)
• ECG 
• ElectroCardioGraphy
• Liver Function Tests
• Kidney Function Tests
• Anaesthesia trials ( to check for any allergic reactions )

• The patient is given local anesthesia to numb the site of the cut.
• The catheter is inserted into the leg or arm artery with the help of the sheath. 
• The coronary artery is injected with the contrast dye to get a clear image of the affected sites while operating. A special camera is inserted through the coronary arteries to get a clear picture of the heart while operating. 
• The balloon catheter is placed near the blockage, this breaks the fat deposits. The balloon is inflated to widen the blocked artery and the stent ( small metal mesh coil that can expand ) is placed at the site, to allow easy flow of the blood to the heart. This prevents the coronary artery from getting blocked again.
• After the stent is placed, the balloon is deflated and removed. Some stents also have medicines in them which also prevents the risk of blocked arteries. The 2 types of stents are- Bare metal stents and Drug-eluting stents. 

Angioplasty can be an elective procedure ( pre-planned ) or can be an emergency procedure in conditions like heart attack or stroke. 

The various risks of angioplasty are- 

• Allergic reactions

• Bleeding at the site of catheter insertion

• Blood clots

• Blood vessel injury

• Nerve injuries

• Heart attacks

• Kidney damage

• Cardiac arrhythmias

• Chest pain

• Stroke
  

• The patient is kept in the hospital under observation for a week after the angioplasty. The  patient is discharged 12-24 hours after the catheter is removed.

• Medications must be strictly followed as prescribed by the doctor, like blood thinning agents are given. 

• Patients must follow a healthy diet, exercise routine, maintain cholesterol levels, quit smoking and drinking, and take a lot of fluids. 

• In case the chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, infections, weakness and swelling continues for a longer time period, one must contact the doctor immediately. In such cases, a patient may be advised a heart- bypass surgery. 

• Patients must strictly attend their follow up appointments in 3-6 months, must get routine investigations done like CBC, Kidney and liver function tests periodically.