The Ed Dardanell Heart & Vascular Center at West Penn Hospital - Forbes Regional Campus
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Coronary Interventions — Angioplasty & Stents

Your doctor will talk to you about your heart problem and explain how angioplasty with coronary stent can help. Angioplasty relieves symptoms of coronary artery disease by improving blood flow to your heart.


The blood flow to the heart muscle decreases due to build up of plaque. The balloon compresses the plaque against the artery wall. The stent is expanded in the artery.

During the Procedure

  • A guide wire is inserted through the guiding catheter (a thin, flexible tube) and moved to the narrow spot in your artery. Your doctor tracks its movement on an angiogram, a special kind of X-ray.

  • A balloon-tipped catheter is inserted through the guiding catheter and threaded over the guide wire. It is positioned at the narrow part of the artery.

  • The balloon is inflated and deflated several times to compress the plaque against the artery wall. You may feel angina (chest pain) when the balloon is inflated. Tell your doctor if you do.

  • The balloon is deflated and the catheters and guide wire are removed. The artery is now open, and blood flow to the heart muscle increases.

  • A stent, which comes mounted on a balloon-tipped catheter, is delivered to the blockage in your artery.

  • The balloon is then inflated, causing the stent to expand.

  • The expanded stent further compresses the plaque against the arterial wall, increasing the blood flow to the heart muscle.

  • A stent is a small metal coil or mesh tube that is placed in a narrowed artery to hold it open, which helps improve blood flow to your heart. The stent also helps reduce the rate of restenosis (renarrowing) of the artery. Some stents slowly release medication over a period of time. This reduces the amount of scar tissue that forms inside the artery, helping to prevent restenosis.

After the Procedure

  • You'll need to remain lying down for 6 to 12 hours.

  • If the insertion site was in your groin, you may need to lie down with your leg still for several hours.

  • A nurse will check the insertion site and your blood pressure. Before going home, you may have a chest X-ray and other tests.

  • You usually remain in the hospital for several hours or overnight.

  • You may need to be on a special medication to prevent the formation of blood clots on your stent. Do not stop taking this medication unless instructed by your doctor.


Information from Krames Online. For more information, log onto http://www.forbesregional.kramesonline.com.