Angioplasty, (Stent Dilatation) A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

Angioplasty is a non-surgcal intervention to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart.
A coronary artery stent is a small, metal mesh tube that inflates to keep open a coronary artery.
A stent is often inserted during or instantly following angioplasty.
It assists to prevent the artery from closing up again.
A drug-eluting stent has medicine implanted in it that assists to prevent the artery from closing in the long term.
Angioplasty:
The patient may also be given medicine that calms down the patient, and blood thinning medicines to prevent a blood clot from developing.
The patient will stretch out on a padded table.
The doctor will place a flexible tube (catheter) through a surgical incision into an artery.
Occasionally the catheter will be inserted in the arm or wrist, or in the upper leg or groin area.
The patient will be conscious during the intervention.
The doctor will make use of live x-ray pictures to guide the catheter up into the heart and arteries.
A dye will be injected into the body to show up blood flow through the arteries.
This assists the doctor see any obstructions in the blood vessels that go to the heart.
A guide wire is passed into and across the obstruction.
A balloon catheter is thrust over the guide wire and into the blockage.
The balloon on the end is inflated (blown up).
This opens the obstructed vessel and reestablishes proper blood flow to the heart.
A wire stent (mesh tube) may then be inserted in this obstructed area.
The stent is placed along with the balloon catheter.
It widens when the balloon is inflated.
The stent is kept there to help maintain the artery open.
Reasons for the Intervention
Arteries can become constricted or obstructed by deposits called plaque.
This disorder is called atherosclerosis.
Angioplasty may be utilized to treat:
1. Obstruction in a coronary artery during or after a heart attack
2. Obstruction or constriction of one or more coronary arteries that places the patient at danger for a heart attack
3. Constricted blood vessels that decrease blood flow and produce persistent chest pain (angina) that medicines do not manage.
Not every blockage can be treated with angioplasty.
Some patients who have several obstructions or blockages in certain positions may require coronary bypass surgery.
Investigations before Angioplasty
An angiogram or angiography is a medical imaging method to look for any blocks, narrowing, dilatations and structural anomalies of heart blood vessels.
This intervention is used to identify the need for angioplasty.
This is a diagnostic investigation that is done after a patient displays atherosclerosis symptoms.
Using an angiogram, the arteries, veins, and the four chambers of the heart are observed by injecting radio-opaque dye (identified by X-rays) into the body.
The risks of angioplasty and stent insertion are:
1. Allergic reaction to the drug eluding stent, the stent material, or the x-ray dye
2. Bleeding or clotting in the area where the catheter was inserted
3. Blood clot
4. Clogging of the inside of the stent
5. Damage to a heart valve or blood vessel
6. Heart attack
7. Kidney failure (higher danger in people who already have kidney disorders)
8. Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias)
9. Stroke (rare)
The Angioplasty Recovery Phase
Patients are often discharged on the same day or instantly next day after an angioplasty intervention.
They may go back to doing routine activities within a week of the intervention
1. Bathing/Getting Dressed – Same day after discharge
2. Walking (With Help) - 6 hours later
3. Cycling - 2 weeks later
4. Returning To Work (normally after 7-10 days)
5. Sex – 3 to 4 days later
6. Driving - 7-10 days later

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Angioplasty
Chapter

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Apr 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370939008

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

Angioplasty,

(Stent Dilatation)

A

Simple

Guide

To

The Condition,

Diagnosis,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2017 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes Angioplasty, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

(What You Need to know about Angioplasty)

This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

I have been writing medical articles for my blog http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

I then wrote an autobiolographical account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

This autobiolographical account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 amazon kindle books and 200 into Smashwords.com eBooks.

Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

As I tried to bring you the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

Chapter 1

Angioplasty (Stent Dilatation)

Angioplasty is a non-surgcal intervention to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart.

A coronary artery stent is a small, metal mesh tube that inflates to keep open a coronary artery.

A stent is often inserted during or instantly following angioplasty.

It assists to prevent the artery from closing up again.

A drug-eluting stent has medicine implanted in it that assists to prevent the artery from closing in the long term.

Description of Angioplasty

Before the angioplasty intervention starts, the patient will be given some pain medicine.

The patient may also be given medicine that calms down the patient, and blood thinning medicines to prevent a blood clot from developing.

The patient will stretch out on a padded table.

The doctor will place a flexible tube (catheter) through a surgical incision into an artery.

Occasionally the catheter will be inserted in the arm or wrist, or in the upper leg or groin area.

The patient will be conscious during the intervention.

The doctor will make use of live x-ray pictures to guide the catheter up into the heart and arteries.

A dye will be injected into the body to show up blood flow through the arteries.

This assists the doctor see any obstructions in the blood vessels that go to the heart.

A guide wire is passed into and across the obstruction.

A balloon catheter is thrust over the guide wire and into the blockage.

The balloon on the end is inflated (blown up).

This opens the obstructed vessel and reestablishes proper blood flow to the heart.

A wire stent (mesh tube) may then be inserted in this obstructed area.

The stent is placed along with the balloon catheter.

It widens when the balloon is inflated.

The stent is kept there to help maintain the artery open.

The stent may be covered with a drug (called a drug-eluting stent).

This form of stent may reduce the possibility of the artery closing back up in the future.

Presently, drug-eluting stents are done only for certain patients.

Reasons for the Intervention

Arteries can become constricted or obstructed by deposits called plaque.

Plaque consists of fat and cholesterol that increases on the inside of artery walls.

This disorder is called atherosclerosis.

Angioplasty may be utilized to treat:

1. Obstruction in a coronary artery during or after a heart attack

2. Obstruction or constriction of one or more coronary arteries that places the patient at danger for a heart attack

3. Constricted blood vessels that decrease blood flow and produce persistent chest pain (angina) that medicines do not manage.

Not every blockage can be treated with angioplasty.

Some patients who have several obstructions or blockages in certain positions may require coronary bypass surgery.

Investigations before Angioplasty

An angiogram or angiography is a medical imaging method through which blood vessels in the body are observed, mainly to look for any blocks, narrowing, dilatations and structural anomalies.

This intervention is used to identify the need for angioplasty, an intervention through which constricted and hardened arteries are managed.

This is a diagnostic investigation that is done after a patient displays atherosclerosis symptoms.

Using an angiogram, the arteries, veins, and the four chambers of the heart are observed by injecting radio-opaque dye (which is identified by X-rays) into the body.

Coronary (heart) angiogram, cerebral (brain) angiogram, and renal (kidneys) angiogram are the different types of angiograms, based on the location of vasculature to be observed.

Methods utilized for angiographic visualization mainly require:

1. X-rays

2. CT scans (Computed tomography)

3. MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)

An angiogram is a minimally invasive method, and it is normally done in a cardiac catheterization laboratory by interventional radiologists or cardiologists

Preparing For an Angiogram

Make sure that the patient checks with the doctor for advice concerning:

1. Medicines (to persist, stop, or alter the dose).

More essentially, ask the doctors for advice on aspirin and heparin.

2. Blood tests (blood clotting and bleeding time, kidney function tests).

3. The patient will require fasting for at least 8 hours before the angiogram intervention starts.

The doctors might do an earlier test with the dye to ensure that the patient is not allergic