PTCA or Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty is a barely invasive medical procedure that opens up blocked or narrowed coronary arteries, which are the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. Simply put, it is done by inflating a tiny balloon inside the artery. An alternative to this procedure is stenting, where instead of a balloon, a medical-grade stent is permanently placed inside the artery to keep the passage open.

Why Is A PTCA Needed?

When your arteries become constricted, the blood flow to your heart reduces. This can cause symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, easy exertion, etc., and can even lead to severe and life-threatening conditions like a heart attack or heart failure. So, when a blockage or narrowing is noticed, the safest course of treatment is to open and widen it up. In many cases, it can be done using PTCA or stenting. 

It is considered a safe and painless procedure. Depending on the location of the blockage, the health of your arteries, and a few other factors, the success rate of this procedure is between 80-99%. With advanced technologies, experienced cardiosurgeons recommend this procedure to enhance the quality of your life and to reduce the risk of severe heart conditions.

How Is A PTCA Done?

• Since PTCA is done under some kind of sedation, you will be advised to fast for at least 12 hours before the procedure.
• Wear comfortable clothing on the day of the surgery. Even though it is an outpatient procedure, it is best to go to the clinic with a loved one so that they can support and take care of you during recovery.
• You will lie down on the exam table and they will numb the site of insertion, usually the groin or your wrist.
• The cardiosurgeon will insert a catheter through an artery and will thread it toward the blockage carefully.
• Once it reaches the blockage, a balloon is inflated to compress the plaque and widen the artery. Then the balloon is deflated.
• If your arteries are weak or prone to getting blocked or narrowing again, a stent may be placed to keep them open.
• The catheter is carefully guided out of your body and the site of the incision is bandaged.
• After the procedure is done, you will be under observation until the risk of bleeding, the effect of the sedation, and the chance of any allergic reaction passes.
• Post that, you can go home and resume your normal life. However, avoid any strenuous activity for a week.
• Remember to take the prescribed medication to prevent infection or bleeding.