| A short tube, called a sheath,
is inserted into a major artery in the groin or arm. A guide
catheter is then inserted into the sheath. While watching
on the X-ray images on a monitor, your doctor advances the
catheter until it reaches your blocked coronary artery.
To find the exact site of the blockage, a small amount of
dye (contrast agent) is injected through the guide catheter.
Areas of blockage show up in the X-ray images (angiogram).
Once the exact location of the blockage is known, a small
catheter carrying a tiny balloon is threaded through the guide
catheter to the site of the blockage. When it reaches the
correct location, the balloon is expanded and deflated, pushing
the plaque against the artery wall and widening the artery.
When the artery has opened enough to allow sufficient blood
flow, the catheter and balloon are removed.
Usually, a stent is placed in the artery to help keep it
open after angioplasty. |
