Angioplasty Procedure for PAD
What is Angioplasty?
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedure that opens a narrowed or blocked artery to restore blood flow. This procedure is performed by a vascular specialist and recommended for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). This minimally invasive treatment allows patients to forego open heart surgery and see near-immediate results.
Request a consultation with a board-certified vascular doctor to learn more.
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The Benefits of Angioplasty
Angioplasty offers patients the following benefits:
- Pain relief: Many patients experience reduced chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue in the long term. These benefits allow patients to confidently resume physical activity pain-free.
- Quick recovery: An angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, meaning most patients can move around shortly after they awake. The majority of patients recover fully within a few days.
- Improved health: An angioplasty restores optimal blood flow to your arms and legs. This improved blood flow could reduce your risk of heart muscle damage, heart attack and stroke. An angioplasty also reduces the risk of severe PAD symptoms such as gangrene and amputation.
Angioplasty Compared to Catheterization
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is mainly therapeutic, actively treats arterial narrowing, and focuses on widening the arteries to improve blood flow.
Catheterization
Catheterization is exploratory, used mainly for diagnostic purposes, and examines arteries to identify blockages.
How is an Angioplasty Performed?
First, a vascular specialist will connect you to an intravenous (IV) line and administer a sedative to keep you comfortable and relaxed during the procedure. The doctor will also administer anesthesia at the injection site.
To open the artery, the physician inserts a balloon-tipped catheter through a small incision. They will then administer a contrast dye to locate the blocked artery through ultrasound imaging before threading the catheter to the blockage.
Once the balloon tip is inside the artery, the specialist inflates it. This process presses the blood clot or plaque buildup to the side to restore blood flow. After confirming the artery is open, the physician removes the catheter.
The Angioplasty and Stenting Procedure
The procedure begins with a small incision in the groin or arm to access the blood vessel. A contrast dye is injected to visualize the artery on X-ray images. A balloon-tipped catheter is then guided to the narrowed section, and the balloon is inflated to expand the artery.
If needed, a stent is placed to keep the artery open. The balloon is deflated and removed, leaving the stent in place. The entire process typically takes less than two hours and is minimally invasive, allowing for a quicker recovery compared to traditional surgeries.
Angioplasty Recovery Tips
After your physician removes the catheter, you will move to a comfortable recovery area, where you will lie down for a few hours. Our caring medical staff will monitor your vitals and whether you are experiencing any bleeding during this time. Once you leave the clinic, you might experience tenderness, bruising or mild pain around the incision site. This is normal, and these side effects should dissipate within a few days.
You should also be able to return to your activities of daily living within a few days. To speed along your recovery, make sure you:
- Follow postoperative care instructions.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Stay hydrated.
- Refrain from strenuous exercise.
- Take any prescribed pain medications as directed.
Benefits and Risks
Angioplasty and stenting offer significant benefits for patients with PAD. They can relieve leg pain, improve mobility, and enhance overall quality of life. Recovery is generally faster than with open surgery, and most patients see substantial symptom relief.
However, risks exist. Potential complications include bleeding, infection, or damage to the artery. Despite these risks, angioplasty and stenting have high success rates and are widely used to treat PAD. Follow-up care is essential to monitor outcomes and ensure long-term health.
Be sure to discuss this risks and benefits with your vascular doctor during your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients report minimal discomfort during angioplasty. Sedation and local anesthesia are used to keep the procedure comfortable.
Recovery is usually quick. Many patients return home the same day and gradually resume normal activities over a few days.
Stents are designed to be permanent no matter where they are placed. Modern stents are durable and adapt to natural movements, helping maintain improved blood flow long-term.
No, modern stents are durable and flexible, allowing them bend with natural movement.
No, angioplasty is a procedure that removes plaque buildup in the artery, and a stent is a flexible mesh tube that supports artery walls to keep blood flowing smoothly.
Yes, in some cases, an angioplasty can be performed without a stent.