What to Expect Before, During, and After an Angioplasty

If you’ve been told you need an angioplasty and wonder what it involves, we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn what angioplasties are and what you can expect from yours.

An angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure to open up narrowed or blocked arteries. Coronary angioplasty opens up the arteries connected to your heart, while peripheral angioplasty opens up the arteries that supply blood to your legs.

Over 1 million angioplasties take place each year in the United States to treat coronary artery disease.

If you need an angioplasty, it's natural to have questions. At Heart and Vascular Associates LLC, our goal is to make sure you’re informed and confident at every step of your care. Don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss your upcoming procedure.

Here, our team in Sierra Vista, Arizona, shares what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure.

What to expect before your angioplasty

Your journey starts with a pre-procedure appointment. During this visit, we review your medical history and perform diagnostic tests like an EKG. We might need to order additional testing, like a stress test, or coronary angiogram.

We’ll ask about your medications. Let us know about any medications you take, especially blood thinners or diabetes medications, as adjustments may be necessary. Include nonprescription vitamins and supplements on your list.

We may ask you to avoid eating or drinking after midnight the night before your procedure.

Sometimes, an angioplasty can be an emergency procedure, for example, to treat a heart attack. In such cases, there are no preparation steps.

What to expect during your angioplasty

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that usually involves local anesthesia with light sedation. Dr. Vinay Sanghi performs outpatient angioplasty at our Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Before your procedure starts, you’ll receive:

An IV for fluids and medications
Vital readings (blood pressure, etc.)
Sedation

Once we’ve placed your IV and administered your fluids and medications, Dr. Sanghi inserts a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) into a blood vessel in your groin or wrist. From there, he guides it to the blocked artery.

Once the catheter is in place, Dr. Sanghi inserts a medical-grade balloon and inflates it to open your artery. He may also place a stent (a tiny mesh tube) to help keep it open.

The entire procedure can take 30 minutes to a few hours.

What to expect immediately after your angioplasty

After your angioplasty, we monitor you in a recovery area for several hours. You may experience some soreness or bruising at the catheter insertion site. Plan on having a friend or family member drive you home from the Ambulatory Surgery Center.

When you’re ready to go home, Dr. Sanghi will give you a detailed post-procedure plan, which may include medications to prevent blood clots and lifestyle recommendations to support heart health, such as a heart-healthy diet, exercise, and quitting smoking.

Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do — continuing to smoke after an angioplasty raises your risk of early death by 76%. Quitting before or right after the procedure significantly improves your chances of long-term survival.

What to expect in the days and weeks after your angioplasty

Most people can return to light activities within a few days, but avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for about a week. Your timeline may vary; if your angioplasty was an emergency procedure, you may need a longer recovery period.

Questions about your angioplasty? Let us know

At Heart and Vascular Associates LLC, your recovery and long-term health are priorities. If you have questions before or after your angioplasty, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us at 520-335-2400. or book an appointment online today.