Coronary Angioplasty

For people living with coronary artery disease, coronary angioplasty or stents may be the solution to treat their damaged arteries. Coronary angioplasty, also called balloon angioplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure that opens narrowed or blocked arteries. Our cardiologists at Goshen Heart & Vascular Center often use stents along with angioplasty to open arteries to allow fresh, oxygenated blood to flow through the heart.

Since our inception, we provide our communities with innovative heart & vascular care. We use the latest technologies to offer interventional cardiology, including coronary angioplasty and stents.

Getting angioplasty at Goshen Heart & Vascular Center

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure: a cardiac surgeon will use a catheter to access your heart through a small incision in the groin. With the help of cardiac imaging and an illuminating dye, your surgeon will guide the catheter to the damaged artery and remove the plaque. Your doctor may insert a stent during your angioplasty to keep the artery open and reduce the chance of another blockage in the future.

Coronary angioplasty can take 30 minutes to a few hours to complete. After the procedure, you will stay in our cardiac care unit for at least one day while your heart care team monitors your recovery.

Life after an angioplasty procedure

Within a week after angioplasty, you could be back to doing your favorite activities. To help you fully recover and return to your normal routine, you may also need rehabilitation therapy, where you’ll learn ways to strengthen your heart. Your doctor will let you know when it’s safe to return to strenuous activities.

Coronary angioplasty and stents are often the best treatment option for blocked arteries. However, having angioplasty doesn’t completely remove the chance of a blocked artery in the future.

To keep your arteries healthy after coronary angioplasty, follow these heart-healthy tips:

• Exercise most days of the week.
• Eat a diet rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit smoking.

Need help with quitting tobacco use or losing weight? Goshen Health offers weight reduction and smoking cessation programs that can help reduce your risk of developing heart problems.

Our team is ready to help

Angioplasty could be the next step to living symptom free. Ask your doctor about getting angioplasty at Goshen Heart & Vascular Center or call (574) 537-5000 for a referral.