Angioplasty and Stenting Fact Sheet

What is Angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive medical procedure designed to unblock clogged or narrowed blood vessels, most commonly an artery. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and sedation by an interventional radiologist, a highly trained specialist medical practitioner. The affected blood vessel is dilated with a very small balloon attached to a catheter, which is inserted into the blood vessel via a tiny skin puncture the size of a tip of a pen. The balloon is kept inflated for a short while, and then deflated and the catheter is removed.

During the procedure, the interventional radiologist is carefully monitoring the situation on a TV screen using X-ray guidance and injects a special X-ray dye (contrast medium) into the target blood vessel. If the result is satisfactory, the catheter is removed and pressure or a small collagen plug is applied to the artery to stop the bleeding.

An unsatisfactory result after the balloon dilatation may require the interventional radiologist to place a stent.

What is Stenting?

Stenting is a procedure which uses a small tubular device (stent link to picture), often called an endoprosthesis, which provides support to blocked blood vessels, and other tubes in the body. It acts as a scaffold to reinforce the wall of the vessel and prevent it from closing down. A stent is most often made of medical grade metal or plastic and can be used to treat many different conditions that cause narrowing or obstruction to vessels and tubes in the body, such as plaque, scar tissue or cancer.

diagram of a stent being inserted where angioplasty is not successful on its own

Stents can be used in:

  1. Blood vessels
  2. Bile ducts in the liver or pancreas
  3. The oesophagus, small bowel or the large bowel
  4. The airways
  5. The tubes carrying urine, leading from the kidney to the bladder, called the ureters.

Stents can be mounted on balloon catheters or be self-expanding. Newer devices may be coated with drugs or they may have a plastic or fabric coating and be able to act as a graft.

Angioplasty and stenting have revolutionised the treatment of many diseases previously requiring surgery. The minimally invasive treatments now allow the treatment of many diseases to be preformed without open surgery.

Both Angioplasty and stenting can be used to treat carotid stenosis.

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What should I expect?

  • The contrast can cause a warm flushing or burning sensation or metallic taste in your mouth.  It only last for a few seconds and stops once the contrast has stopped being injected.  Please ring MIVIR if you have a known allergy to Iodine or contrast.
  • You may be required to take some time off work – please let the nurses know so they can organise a medical certificate for you.  An attendance certificate can be provided for your carer on the day of the procedure.
  • Please make sure you have someone to pick you up after your procedure.  You procedure will be cancelled if you don’t have an escort.  Please contact MIVIR as soon as possible if this cannot be arranged.

On the day of your Procedure

You will need to present to the Day Procedure Unit on the day of your procedure – your admission time will be sent to you with your appointment time.  This will allow the nurses time to complete your admission paperwork and any other tests that may be required such as blood tests or pre-medication.

You should have nothing solid to eat from midnight the night before the test. You should continue to take your usual medications with the following exceptions:

  1. Stop taking warfarin at least 48 hrs before the test. A clotting test will be performed on the day of the test.
  2. If you are diabetic, you must call our office for special instructions.
  3. Please inform us as soon as possible if you are allergic to x-ray dye, or iodine, as we can plan to take special precautions or give you special medication prior to your procedure.
  4. Please bring all your medications with you.
Pre Procedure

Pre Procedure

You will be required to change into a hospital gown and remove all clothing including your underwear.  A cannula will be inserted into one of the veins in your arm or hand so medication can be given before, during or after your procedure.  You may need to have some hair removed from your groin crease.

Post Procedure

Post Procedure

You will need to lie flat on your back for a minimum of 2 hours in the recovery room, during which your blood pressure, pulse and respirations will be monitored by the nursing staff. You will be given something to eat and drink and any accompanying friend or relative will be permitted to sit with you.

You will most likely be admitted to hospital following your procedure, and therefore once your recovery room observations are satisfactory, you will be taken to your hospital room.

Discharge

Discharge

If you are being discharged home, you will be observed for a period of 4 hours, after which you may get dressed and escorted by a member of the nursing staff out of the department. You will not be permitted to drive or take public transport home. Someone should drive you home or you may take a taxi. Elderly or frail patients or those who live alone or a great distance from the hospital may be admitted to hospital overnight.

At Home

At home

You should rest and take it easy for 1-2 days following your procedure. Do not drive a car, operate machinery or take a hot bath or shower for 24 hours. You should drink plenty of fluids; resume your normal diet and resume taking your normal medications. Try to keep the bandage on the catheter insertion site for a day or so, then it can be removed.

Precautions and Important Information:

Call our clinic (03 9411 7165) or the hospital (03 9411 7111) immediately if:

  1. You start to bleed from the puncture site or there is increasing swelling at the site.
  2. Your limb feels cold, numb, painful, or there is a change in colour.
  3. There is increasing pain or colour change or numbness in the foot on the side of the procedure.

Author: Dr John Vrazas