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A cardiac angioplasty (coronary angioplasty)
is a procedure to improve blood flow to your heart by
using a balloon catheter to widen the narrowing in your
artery. The test is done by a cardiologist who is assisted
by nurses and technicians in the cardiac catheterization
lab. The test takes approximately one to two hours.
Before the Test
The day before the test, you will receive a phone call
from the cardiac catheterization lab informing you of
the time to arrive at the hospital. If your test is
scheduled on a Monday, you will receive the phone call
the Friday afternoon before.
You may be asked not to eat or drink anything after
midnight the night before your angioplasty. In some
cases, you may be informed you can eat a light breakfast
(toast, cereal, fruit) four hours before your procedure
time. After breakfast, you should only drink water.
The instructions are dependent on your procedure time.
Important information to tell the doctor:
- If you take glucophage (Metformin) or warfarin (Coumadin).
You may need to stop these medicines for several days.
- If you have diabetes and take insulin.
- If you are pregnant.
- If you are allergic to iodine, dye, shell fish or
any other medicine or food.
If indicated, you may be given medicine before the
procedure to prevent an allergic reaction during the
catheterization.
General Instructions
Bring your medicines with you on the day of your procedure.
Leave all your valuables at home except your glasses,
hearing aid and dentures.
Day of the Test
You will be taken into the pre-procedure holding area
for the catheterization team to prepare you for the
test. Preparation takes approximately one hour. You
will be asked to put on a patient gown. An intravenous
catheter will be placed in a vein in your arm to give
you fluids. The skin where the catheter (tube) used
to do the procedure is to be inserted will be shaved
before the test. Also, during this time the cardiologist
will explain the test and the possible risks and benefits
of the procedure to you. You will be asked to sign a
legal consent form providing the doctor permission to
perform the test. Questions you may have can be asked
at any time.
Your family will be instructed to wait in the cardiac
cath lab waiting area during your test time. Your test
may be delayed if an emergency or trauma patient arrives
at Loyola.
During the Test
You will be taken into the cardiac cath laboratory for
the test. The laboratory may feel cool. Ask for blankets
if you need them. You will be connected to a heart,
blood pressure and oxygen monitors. You will be given
medicine before the procedure to help you relax. You
will be awake for the procedure because your cooperation
may be needed.
You will be covered with a sterile drape. The skin
where the catheter will be inserted will be the only
area exposed. This skin area will be cleaned and numbed
with a local anesthetic before the catheter is inserted.
The local anesthetic injection may feel like a bee sting,
but will pass quickly. The most common blood vessel
used for this procedure is in the groin area.
The catheter is inserted by the doctor and moved through
your body to your heart. You should not feel the catheter.
You may be asked to hold your breath, cough or move
your arms during the procedure. The nurses will help
you. You may feel a warm sensation when the dye is injected.
After the tests are all finished, the catheter will
be removed from your groin either in the laboratory
or nursing unit. The doctor may close the insertion
area with a stitch, or a collagen plug or a pressure
device to stop any bleeding.
After the Test
You will be observed in the cardiac cath lab recovery
area and then admitted to the coronary interventional
unit or intensive care unit for observation. You will
be attached to a heart monitor and a nurse will frequently
check your pulse, blood pressure and catheter insertion
site for bleeding. You will be on bed rest with instructions
not to move or bend your affected leg for approximately
six to eight hours to prevent bleeding.
Most people have no pain after the procedure. You must
call the nurse if you feel any pain or wetness in the
area where the catheter was inserted, a sign you may
be bleeding. Inform the nurse if you feel any chest
pain or if the leg used for insertion becomes cool or
numb. You will be asked to drink a lot of fluids to
help flush the contrast dye out of your body.
Blood tests and EKG will be performed. You will be
walking with assistance from the nurse 12 hours after
your angioplasty. You may be placed on blood thinning
medicine in the hospital and to take at home to prevent
the reoccurrence of blockage in the angioplasty vessel.
You will be able to go home the day after your procedure.
Have a family member or friend drive you home from the
hospital, because you are not able to drive three days
after the procedure. Most people can resume normal activity
a few days after the procedure. You will not be able
to lift, push or pull anything greater than 10 pounds
for one week.
You may see a bruise or feel a small lump at the insertion
site. Call the doctor in the cardiac cath lab if the
insertion site bleeds, is red, swollen or draining,
or if you feel increased pain in your groin, develop
a fever, or the leg that the catheter was inserted feels
cool or numb.
Procedure Results
The cardiologist will talk with you and your family
about your test results before you leave the hospital.
Your doctor will receive a report of the procedure.
Ask your doctor when you should make an appointment
to see your doctor.
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