Angioplasty is a procedure used to restore blood flow to the heart. During angioplasty, a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into a patient’s blocked artery. A stent (small wire cage) may be inserted to keep the artery open. By quickly restoring blood flow, damage to the heart is minimized. Research shows primary angioplasty is better than clot busting drugs in limiting permanent heart muscle damage.
Elective angioplasty can help patients live better lives without the need for invasive open heart surgery.
The procedure involves the insertion of a thin plastic tube, known as a sheath, into the patient’s artery. Next, a specialized balloon-tipped catheter is guided by X-ray imaging through the sheath to the exact location of the obstruction in the artery. Once in position, the balloon device is inflated, thereby opening the vessel so that blood can once again flow freely through the artery. In most cases, a stent is also deployed inside the artery to ensure that the vessel remains open.
When a catheter is inserted into a patient’s artery, it requires only a small needle puncture either in the groin area (to access the femoral artery) or at the wrist (to access the radial artery).
This procedure usually requires only a local anesthetic and the patient can typically expect an overnight stay in the hospital for monitoring.
Heart attacks occur when a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart is blocked. This lack of oxygen and vital nutrients causes damage to the heart muscle. During a heart attack, timing is everything. Chances of survival are dramatically increased if the blockages are treated within 90 minutes. Studies show that immediate treatment, such as an emergency angioplasty, lowers mortality rates from an acute heart attack.
Our Emergency Department staff is specially trained to evaluate heart attack patients. They work closely with emergency medical personnel to quickly assess and treat patients.
Ambulance paramedics can digitally transmit crucial cardiac data en route to the hospital, enabling Emergency Department staff to swiftly diagnose and prepare for the patient's arrival.
Signs of heart attack include the most common symptoms, such as chest pain or pain radiating down an arm, often the left arm. However, heart attack symptoms can also feel like gas or heartburn. Symptoms in women are often even more vague.
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