BIO -GRAM

Angioplasty
Angioplasty, also known as percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) is a non-surgical procedure used to
treat atherosclerosis, so as to widen the narrow or obstructed blood vessels. It is usually performed by an
interventional cardiologist, a doctor with special training in treatment of heart diseases, using invasive
catheter based procedure.
1. The television monitors and heart monitors
Small metal discs or electrodes
are connected to an X-ray camera, near the
are placed on the chest of
examination table.
the patient, which connect to
electrocardiogram that monitors
E B the heart rhythm during the
procedure.

A blood pressure cuff is also

wrapped around patients arm to
monitor his blood pressure. D An anesthetic medicine is applied
C locally to numb the area where
the catheter is to be inserted.
USE OF STENTS
To enhance the safety and results of
angioplasty procedure, the stents are
The patient is made to lie
often permanently inserted into the A down still on the table.
artery, during angioplasty.
Artery
A
Ar reased
Increased
ood
blood
Catheters
Cath w
flow 2. INSERTION OF CATHETER
Cut is made in the groin area or wrist

Plaque
Plaq
Stent or arm. A catheter is then inserted
Closed
Clos widened
ned
sten
stent arteryy through an artery to the blocked site,
Expanded
ed e.g., coronary artery.
stent
nt
Balloon
on Compressed
essed
plaque
Brachial
The stent is put at The catheter is then Once the stent is wide open, the balloon is artery
the tip of catheter, positioned at the blockage deflated , and the catheter, guidewire along
over the balloon. and the balloon is inflated. with deflated balloon is removed, leaving
Thus, the stent is expanded. behind the stent to widen the artery. Alternative
site
5. REMOVAL OF BLOCKAGE BY INFLATING BALLOON A long, flexible,
Once the flexible guidewire reaches the blockage, it is pushed soft plastic tube is
pushed through the
across the blockage. A hollow tipped balloon (deflated) introducer sheath. Guiding
catheter is inserted using the guidewire as a pathway. catheter

A
Artery ased
Increased Catheter is moved Introducer
blood through the blood sheath in the
Cath
Catheters flow vessels and into the groin area
The lumen of heart using X-rays. It is
Plaqu
Plaque the artery also placed in artery on the
expands due to basis of real time X-ray
W
Widenedd inflated balloon images.
EExpanded
ed a
artery thus, improving
on
balloon Co sed
Compressed the blood flow.
pl
plaque
3. INJECTION OF DYE INTO THE CATHETER
Injection of dye into the
When the catheter reaches the blocked site, the balloon is inflated, catheter shows the flow of
which expands the area around it and thus, compressing the plaque blood in arteries.
Catheter
C theter
Cathe
build up.
Arteryy Plaque
Plaq uee Aorta
Cathet
Catheter
4. DETECTION OF BLOCKAGES Dye
Le
Left
Once the exact location of blockage is atr
atrium
detected and its X-ray image is studied, The dye helps in locating Coronary
ary Coronary
C
the type of balloon catheter and flexible blockages or plaques in ries
arteries a
arteries
guidewire to be used are selected. arteries .
Atheromatous L
Left
v
ventricle
plaque Rightt ventricle

MT BIOLOGY TODAY | JANUARY 17 83