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Angioplasty Specialist

Humble Vascular Surgical Center

Interventional Nephrologist & Interventional Vascular Specialist located in Humble, TX

When you have a blockage in your artery, your blood can’t circulate to your heart like it should. To reduce your risk for heart attack and long-term heart complications, the experienced medical providers at Humble Vascular Surgical Center offer comprehensive angioplasty services at the office in Humble, Texas. Minimally invasive angioplasty opens your arteries to restore blood flow without the need for surgery. To find out more about the benefits of angioplasty, call Humble Vascular Surgical Center or book a consultation online today.

Angioplasty Q&A

What is angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a procedure to widen blood vessels so blood can flow more freely, especially the blood vessels that supply your heart. This treatment is standard for conditions that cause blockages in your arteries, which can lead to a heart attack and serious heart damage.

You might need an angioplasty if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of a blocked artery. Other conditions that might benefit from angioplasty include:

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Renovascular hypertension
  • Narrowing of a dialysis fistula or graft

The team at Humble Vascular Surgical Center may also recommend angioplasty after a heart attack to reduce the amount of damage to your heart muscle and lower your risk for another heart attack.

What happens during angioplasty?

During angioplasty, your Humble Vascular Surgical Center provider inserts a thin catheter into your arterial system. Attached to the catheter is a small balloon.

Using fluoroscopy guidance, a real-time X-ray technology, your physician positions the balloon near the blockage in your artery. They gently inflate the balloon to widen your artery so that blood can flow through more efficiently. In some cases, the balloon might have a coating of medicine that stays in your artery.

After treating the artery, they deflate the balloon. To keep the blood vessel open and free of blockages, your Humble Vascular Surgical Center provider may place a mesh stent, a tube-shaped device that holds the artery open.

You might undergo angioplasty at the time of your diagnosis as part of an angiogram. An angiogram is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure to identify arterial blockages.

What happens after angioplasty?

Following your angioplasty, you can go home to rest. You need to avoid strenuous activity that can cause bleeding at the insertion site.

Depending on your condition, your Humble Vascular Surgical Center provider might prescribe blood-thinning medications to prevent clots.

If the providers place a stent during your angioplasty, you may need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to ensure the stent is in place and functioning properly.

To find out more about the benefits of minimally invasive angioplasty, call Humble Vascular Surgical Center or book a consultation online today.