Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition caused by the gradual clogging of the coronary arteries. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to all parts of your body, and coronary arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle.
Blockages can occur in various arteries in your body. But blockages are especially common in some of the larger arteries like the coronary arteries. CAD and the blockages that result
can slow and even cut off blood flow to the heart. When too little oxygen reaches the
heart, it can cause a heart attack. Often people don’t know they have CAD until they have a heart attack.
Other names for coronary artery disease: CAD,
coronary heart disease, heart disease, atherosclerosis. (Atherosclerosis is a general term for the gradual blockage of any artery, not just the coronary artery.)
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by plaque buildup in your coronary arteries. Plaque is made up of fatty substances, like cholesterol, in your blood. The plaque builds up slowly, over a number of years. In time plaque can harden and narrow your arteries. CAD can cut off the oxygen supply to your heart.
Factors other than cholesterol can be involved. CAD is also affected by the following risk factors and conditions. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing CAD.
Risk factors you can change
Risk factors you cannot change
Other health conditions that can increase your risk
To learn more, go to the Risk Factors section and the Health Conditions section (to learn about diabetes and high blood pressure).
If you develop coronary artery disease (CAD), you may not have any symptoms at first. Some people, however, do notice symptoms because the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen. One common symptom is pain in the chest (angina), back, arm, or neck.
Sometimes symptoms mean that the CAD is causing a heart attack. In addition to pain, common heart attack symptoms can include:
You can also learn about the differences in men’s and women’s symptoms of heart attack. To learn more, go to the Health Conditions section and select heart attack.
To find out if you have coronary artery disease (CAD), your doctor may suggest one or more of the tests listed below. The test results can also help your doctor choose the best treatment(s) for you.
In some cases you may be sent to specialists for diagnosis and testing- and sometimes for treatment. To learn more, go to theYour Treatment Team section.
Angiogram
Cardiac Catheterization CT Scan
Cholesterol Test Echocardiogram
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) MRI
Stress Test
An angiogram is an image of your blood vessels, similar to an x-ray. An angiogram shows:
An angiogram might be ordered if your doctor suspects blockages in:
The angiogram begins with a cardiac catheterization. During a cardiac catheterization, a small, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in your groin or arm. Your doctor gently “steers” the catheter toward your blocked blood vessel. Once the catheter is in place, your doctor injects dye to begin the angiogram. The dye allows your blood vessels to show up as images on a monitor-almost like roads on a map. If the angiogram shows a blocked artery, your doctor may be able to treat it at the time with a procedure such as balloon angioplasty.
A cardiac catheterization is a procedure in which a small, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel. The catheter is usually put into a blood vessel in your groin (or sometimes in your arm). Your doctor gently “steers” the catheter toward your heart, or toward a blood vessel that might be blocked. A cardiac catheterization is the first step in a number of heart and blood vessel tests and procedures.
For instance, a cardiac catheterization is often the first step in an angiogram. In an angiogram, your doctor injects dye through the catheter into your arteries to find any blockages. With a catheterization, your doctor can also:
During a cardiac catheterization, your doctor may also treat any blocked blood vessels with one or more of these procedures to improve blood flow:
A computerized (or computed) tomography (CAT, or CT) scan is a special type of x-ray. Although a CAT scan is used to get images of many parts of the body, let’s use the example of the heart. A traditional x-ray shows two-dimensional images
of the heart-its length and width. But a CAT scan uses an x-ray machine that moves around your body and takes multiple images of the heart. As small amounts of x-rays pass through your body, different types of tissue absorb different amounts of the x-rays. This helps provide a more precise image compared to a traditional x-ray.
The CAT scan images are viewed together on a video monitor, offering a three dimensional view- length, width, and depth. Because it is a three-dimensional image, a CAT scan offers a much better picture of the entire heart than a traditional two-dimensional x-ray can.
A CAT scan is used to detect many health conditions-tumors, for example, or bone problems like osteoporosis. As it relates to heart and blood vessel disease, a CAT scan is often used to identify:
Some types of heart disease, such as heart failure A blood vessel blockage or blood clot
When you have a computed tomography (CAT) scan, you typically undress and put on a hospital gown or sheet. You lie on an exam table. As the test begins, the table slowly moves inside a doughnut-shaped machine.
Sometimes you receive a contrast dye-usually through an intravenous (IV) line that is put into your arm. The dye allows your heart or blood vessels to show up as images on a monitor. For instance, if the test is being done to look at your blood vessels, the dye makes them visible-almost like roads on a map. You might notice some effects from the dye:
Warm flushing feeling, and maybe nausea, for a minute or so Metallic taste when the dye reaches the blood vessels in your mouth
The technician asks you to hold your body still during the scan. Sometimes pillows and/or straps help you stay in the same position. As the x-ray tube rotates around your body, the table slowly moves through the machine. You might be asked to hold your breath at certain times during the scan. Although the CAT scan is generally not a painful test, you may feel uncomfortable from having to lie in one position during the test-anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes.
A cholesterol test is a simple blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol and other fatty substances (triglycerides) in your blood. Cholesterol and other
fats can build up in your blood vessels, especially your arteries. Over time this buildup can form plaque, which can narrow and harden the arteries. Plaque in a blood vessel causes atherosclerosis, which can slow blood flow through the vessel. Over time this plaque can clog arteries:
So cholesterol test results are important in revealing if you are at risk for these health problems. The test looks at overall cholesterol levels as well as triglyceride levels. It also looks at two specific types of cholesterol:
Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood, or mg/dl. The goal for each level is as follows:
However, only your doctor can tell you what level of cholesterol is “high” for you. Your doctor considers your other risk factors when making that decision. For example, if you have no family history of heart disease, an LDL level of 160 mg/dl may be high. For someone with a strong family history of heart disease, an LDL level of 130 mg/dl or lower may be high.
When you have a cholesterol test, you are usually told to fast (no food or beverages, except water) for 12 hours before your blood is drawn. The technician inserts a needle into your arm, usually at the bend inside your elbow. A sample of your blood flows into a small tube, which goes to the lab to be studied.
Your procedure will be performed in a “cath lab.” When you have a cardiac catheterization you undress and put on a hospital gown or sheet. You lie on an exam table and an intravenous (IV) line is put into your arm. The IV delivers fluids and medications during the procedure. The medication makes you groggy, but not unconscious. Electrodes on your chest monitor your heart’s activity during the procedure. A blood pressure cuff on your arm also regularly takes your blood pressure. The doctor makes a small incision (usually in the groin) for the catheter. The area will be numbed so you shouldn’t feel pain, but you may feel some pressure as the catheter is inserted. You won’t be fully asleep, so during the test your doctor or nurse might ask you questions to make sure you are not feeling pain, for instance. Afterwards you might be in the hospital overnight. Most people have a fairly rapid recovery.
An echocardiogram (also called an echo) is a three-dimensional, moving image of your heart. An echo uses Doppler ultrasound technology. It is similar to the ultrasound test done on pregnant women. The echo machine emits sound waves at a frequency that people can’t hear. The waves pass over the chest and through the heart. The waves reflect or “echo” off of the heart, showing:
When you have an echocardiogram, you undress from the waist up, put on a hospital gown, and lie on an exam table. The technician spreads gel on your chest and side to help transmit the sound waves. The technician then moves a pen-like instrument (called a transducer) around on your chest or side. The transducer records the echoes of the sound waves. At the same time, a moving picture of your heart is shown on a special monitor. You may be asked to lie on your back or your side during different parts of the test. You may also be asked to hold your breath briefly so that the technician can get a good image of your heart. An echo is a painless test. You feel only light pressure on your skin as the transducer moves back and forth.
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) reveals how your heart’s electrical system is working. The ECG senses and records your heartbeats, or heart rhythms. The results are printed on a strip of paper. An ECG can also help your doctor
diagnose whether:
In all, there are three kinds of tests that record your heart’s electrical activity, each for a different period of time:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)-done in the doctor’s office. It records your heart rhythms for a few minutes.
Holter monitoring– records and stores (in its memory) all of your heart rhythms for 24-48 hours.
Event recorder-constantly records your heart rhythms. But it stores the rhythms (in its memory) only when you push a button.
The peaks on an electrocardiogram (ECG) strip are called waves. Together, all the peaks and valleys give your doctor important information about how your heart is working:
When you have an electrocardiogram (ECG) you undress from the waist up, put on a hospital gown, and lie on an exam table. As many as 12 small patches called electrodes are placed on your chest, neck, arms, and legs. The electrodes, which connect to wires on the ECG machine, sense the heart’s electrical signals. The machine then traces your heart’s rhythm on a strip of graph paper.
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) reveals how your heart’s electrical system is working. The ECG senses and records your heartbeats, or heart rhythms. The results are printed on a strip of paper. An ECG can also help your doctor
diagnose whether:
In all, there are three kinds of tests that record your heart’s electrical activity, each for a different period of time:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)-done in the doctor’s office. It records your heart rhythms for a few minutes.
Holter monitoring- records and stores (in its memory) all of your heart rhythms for 24-48 hours.
Event recorder-constantly records your heart rhythms. But it stores the rhythms (in its memory) only when you push a button.
The peaks on an electrocardiogram (ECG) strip are called waves. Together, all the peaks and valleys give your doctor important information about how your heart is working:
When you have an electrocardiogram (ECG) you undress from the waist up, put on a hospital gown, and lie on an exam table. As many as 12 small patches called electrodes are placed on your chest, neck, arms, and legs. The electrodes, which connect to wires on the ECG machine, sense the heart’s electrical signals. The machine then traces your heart’s rhythm on a strip of graph paper.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets, radio waves, and computer technology to create images of different parts of your body. MRI is especially useful in creating clear images of soft tissues. For instance, many people have an MRI to check their heart and/or blood vessels.
MRI is done in a large, tube-shaped machine. Coils inside the machine’s walls produce a strong magnetic field. Other coils inside the machine’s walls send and receive radio waves. In response to the radio waves, your body produces faint signals. As the machine senses the faint signals, a computer creates three dimensional images of the inside of your body.
The images can reveal:
Before your magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) you undress and put on a hospital gown or sheet. Before entering the MRI room, it’s important to remove any jewelry, hearing aids, or anything else with metal in it. The magnets in the MRI machine are very strong, and if you have metal on your body you could possibly be injured. Most people with a cardiac device-a pacemaker, implantable defibrillator, or heart failure device-should typically avoid an MRI. All cardiac device patients should check with their doctor before scheduling an MRI.
Once in the MRI room, you lie on a moveable table and an intravenous (IV) line is put into your arm. The IV delivers fluids and medications during the procedure. For instance, the technician may put contrast dye into the IV.
Patches called electrodes are put on your chest. The electrodes connect to wires on an electrocardiogram (ECG). The electrodes and ECG monitor your heart’s activity during the procedure. Often a blood pressure cuff on your arm also regularly takes your blood pressure. The table you are lying on slides into the MRI scanner, but there are no moving parts inside the machine. You wear headphones or earplugs to muffle some of the noises from the machine, which makes thumping sounds. The technician might ask you to lie very still or hold your breath for parts of the test. However, you may feel muscles twitching in your fingers or toes.
A stress test is a type of electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). Regular ECGs examine how your heart beats at rest. Stress tests examine your heart’s response to exercise, or stress. There are many variations of stress tests. But the purpose of most stress tests is to find out if your heart is getting enough blood and oxygen.
Stress tests are often done to reproduce symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath. The test looks at:
The test can show:
In one of the simpler types of stress tests, you walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike. You begin at an easy pace. The machine is slowly adjusted to make you work harder. You continue exercising until you feel symptoms or until you get too tired. A stress test is also known as an exercise test, a treadmill test, or an exercise ECG.
During a nuclear stress test, the technician or nurse inserts an intravenous (IV) line-usually in your arm. A small amount of a radioactive substance called thallium is injected through the IV into your bloodstream. Usually a nuclear stress test is done as part of a regular stress test, since the thallium can give your doctor more information about whether your heart gets enough blood and oxygen. But a nuclear stress test can be done even if you are unable to exercise, since another medication can also be given to make your heart work harder.
After the thallium is injected, you lie on a table underneath a special camera. The camera then takes images of your heart. Any part your heart that doesn’t receive
enough blood and oxygen also receives less thallium. Therefore that part of your heart shows up as a lighter color on the image.
When you have a stress test you undress from the waist up and put on a hospital gown. As many as 12 small patches called electrodes are placed on your chest, neck, arms, and legs. The electrodes connect to wires on the electrocardiogram (ECG). The machine then records the electrical activity in your heart from each of the electrodes. A blood pressure cuff is also put on your arm, and your blood pressure is checked often. If you have a nuclear stress test, you will also have an IV inserted (usually into your arm).
A stress test itself does not usually cause any pain, although sometimes it reproduces painful symptoms. However the test gives you a workout, since you exercise until you’re very tired. Usually a nurse talks to you and gives you instructions throughout the test. The nurse continues to monitor your symptoms, your blood pressure, and your heart rate for about 10-15 minutes after you stop exercising.
Because lifestyle factors can affect coronary artery disease (CAD), part of your treatment may include living a healthier lifestyle. For example, if you struggle to control your weight, your doctor or nurse might suggest some strategies that can work for you. To learn more, go to the Risk Factors section.
Your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation as part of your treatment. In cardiac rehabilitation, you work with a team of healthcare experts that helps you recover. To help you learn how to avoid future heart-related problems, the team:
Other types of treatment depend on your test results. Your doctor may recommend one or more of these medications or procedures.
If you have a heart or blood vessel condition, you might want to know more about some of the medications you take. The information in this section describes some medications commonly prescribed for heart or blood vessel conditions. It also includes some tips to help you take your medications as ordered.
Make sure you tell your doctor-or any new doctor who prescribes medication for you-about all the medications and supplements you take. Your doctor can then help make sure you get the most benefit from your medications. Telling your doctor this information also helps avoid harmful interactions between medications.
You may also want to discuss these topics with your doctor or nurse each time you get a new medication:
In some cases, your heart needs several months to adjust to new medications. So you may not notice any improvement right away. It also may take time for your doctor to determine the correct dosage.
Blood tests are sometimes necessary for people who take heart medications. The blood tests help your doctor determine the correct dosage- and therefore help avoid harmful side effects.
Never stop taking your medication or change the dosage on your own because you don’t believe you need it anymore, don’t think it’s working properly, or feel fine without it.
Be sure to talk to your doctor or nurse if you have:
And don’t hesitate to ask your pharmacist if you have questions about how and when to take your medications.
“ACE” is short for “angiotensin-converting enzyme.” ACE inhibitors are medications that help prevent your body from producing too much of a natural chemical called angiotensin II.
All medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a specific patient group or condition. Only your doctor knows which medications are appropriate for you.
ACE inhibitors block an enzyme that is needed to produce angiotensin II. The body uses angiotensin II to maintain proper blood pressure and fluid balance. But angiotensin II can have harmful long-term effects on your heart and blood vessels. It can cause blood vessels to narrow and can also raise blood pressure.
Taking ACE inhibitors can: Relax the arteries
Lower blood pressure
Help the heart work more effectively
Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners)
You can understand the purpose of anticoagulants by looking at the root words of the term. Anti = counter or against; coagulant = thicken or clot.
All medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a specific patient group or condition. Only your doctor knows which medications are appropriate for you.
To reduce the risk of blood clots that could lead to stroke and other medical conditions
Anticoagulants are often called blood thinners, although they don’t actually thin the blood. Rather, they help prevent clots from forming in your blood.
These medications treat conditions related to atherosclerosis, or arteries blocked by plaque. Plaque buildup can lead to a blood clot.
Taking anticoagulant medications can:
Beta blockers get their name because they “block” the effects of substances like adrenaline on your body’s “beta receptors.”
All medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a specific patient group or condition. Only your doctor knows which medications are appropriate for you.
These medications block activity of your sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system reacts when you are stressed or when you have certain health conditions. When your system responds, your heart beats faster and with more force. Your blood pressure also goes up.
Beta blockers block signals from the sympathetic nervous system. This slows your heart rate and keeps your blood vessels from narrowing. These two actions can result in:
Statins are commonly called cholesterol-lowering medications.
All medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a specific patient group or condition. Only your doctor knows which medications are appropriate for you.
To lower cholesterol levels
To reduce the risk of conditions related to high cholesterol:
Statin medications affect three types of fats in the blood. They work by:
Your liver makes most of your cholesterol. In people with high cholesterol, the liver forms more cholesterol than the body needs. The extra cholesterol goes into your blood. Statins block liver cells from producing too much cholesterol.
One purpose of vasodilators is to lower blood pressure. To understand how vasodilators work, imagine the same amount of water moving through a 1-inch diameter hose versus a 2-inch diameter hose. The bigger the hose, the less pressure on the walls of the hose.
Medications such as vasodilators can help relax and dilate blood vessels that have become narrowed (constricted).
All medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a specific patient group or condition. Only your doctor knows which medications are appropriate for you.
You may have heard of other types of vasodilators. Beta blockers, which are a common heart and blood vessel medication, are one type of vasodilator. Another type is calcium channel blockers.
Vasodilators help relax and dilate the blood vessels, so blood moves through them more easily. This helps to:
Lower blood pressure
Allow the heart to work with less effort Decrease the amount of angina (chest pain)
An atherectomy opens blocked blood vessels by cutting away plaque buildup. It is a procedure that uses local numbing. General anesthesia is usually not needed.
Cutting away the plaque opens the artery and allows the blood to flow more freely, which can reduce your:
An atherectomy begins with a catheterization. During a catheterization, a small, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in your groin (or sometimes in your arm). Your doctor gently “steers” the catheter toward your blocked vessel. Dye put in through the catheter allows your blood vessels to show up as images on a monitor-almost like roads on a map. (This part of the procedure is called an angiogram.) The catheterization and angiogram are typically part of an atherectomy.
Once there is a clear image of the blockage, your doctor begins the atherectomy. The doctor uses a special catheter with a tiny cutting tool on the end. The tool scrapes away the plaque on the inside of the artery. The tool is specially designed to cut only the plaque and not to damage the blood vessel in any way. Without the plaque blocking the vessel, blood may be able to flow more freely.
After the atherectomy, your doctor may use another catheter to implant a stent. A stent is a tiny mesh tube that holds your artery open. The stent may help prevent your artery from becoming blocked again.
Usually you are told not to eat or drink anything for a number of hours before the procedure. Your procedure will be performed in a “cath lab.” You lie on an exam table and an intravenous (IV) line is put into your arm. The IV delivers fluids and medications during the procedure. The medication makes you groggy, but not unconscious.
The doctor makes a small incision for the catheter. The area will be numbed so you shouldn’t feel pain, but you may feel some pressure as the catheter is inserted. During the atherectomy your doctor or nurse might ask you questions to make sure you are not feeling pain, for instance. You may be in the hospital overnight. But most people have a fairly quick recovery.
A balloon angioplasty opens blocked blood vessels by pressing plaque against the artery wall. It is a procedure that uses local numbing. General anesthesia usually is not needed.
This procedure opens the artery and allows blood to flow more freely, which can reduce your:
A balloon angioplasty typically begins with a catheterization. During a catheterization, a small, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in your groin (or sometimes in your arm). Your doctor gently “steers” the catheter toward your blocked vessel. Dye put in through the catheter allows your blood vessels to show up as images on a monitor-almost like roads on a map. (This part of the procedure is called an angiogram.) The catheterization and angiogram are typically part of the procedure. Once there is a clear image of the blockage, your doctor begins the angioplasty.
During angioplasty, the doctor uses a special catheter with a small balloon on the end. The doctor inflates the balloon near the blockage in your artery. The inflated balloon presses the plaque against the artery wall, allowing for better blood flow.
After the balloon angioplasty, your doctor may use another catheter to implant a stent. A stent is a tiny mesh tube that holds your artery open. The stent may help prevent your artery from becoming blocked again.
Usually you are told not to eat or drink anything for a number of hours before the procedure. Your procedure will be performed in a “cath lab.” You lie on an exam table and an intravenous (IV) line is put into your arm. The IV delivers fluids and medications during the procedure. The medication makes you groggy, but not unconscious.
The doctor makes a small incision for the catheter. The area will be numbed so you shouldn’t feel pain, but you may feel some pressure as the catheter is inserted. During the angioplasty your doctor or nurse might ask you questions-
to make sure you are not feeling pain, for instance. You may be in the hospital overnight. But most people have a fairly quick recovery.
If you have one or more blocked coronary arteries, your heart may not be getting enough blood and oxygen. If a less invasive procedure, like a balloon angioplasty, isn’t likely to open your arteries, your doctor may recommend bypass surgery. During bypass surgery, your doctor creates new pathways to route blood around blocked vessels.
A bypass is an open-heart surgery that requires general anesthesia. The full name for a bypass is a coronary artery bypass graft (or CABG, pronounced “cabbage”).
During bypass surgery your doctor takes (harvests) a piece of a healthy blood vessel- often from your chest, arm, or leg. This harvested vessel becomes the new path for blood flow around the blocked artery. Your doctor chooses the healthy vessel(s) based on the size and location of your blocked artery. Doctors usually choose from among these three options when taking vessels for bypass:
It’s okay to remove pieces of these blood vessels for bypass because other vessels take over for them. Doctors more often choose arteries, rather than veins, for grafts. Veins sewn-or “grafted”–to heart arteries sometimes clog up again. Arteries are less likely to do so.
Traditional bypass surgery begins with an incision in your breastbone (sternum). With the traditional form of bypass surgery, your doctor needs to operate on a completely still heart.
So you receive medications to stop your heart. A heart-lung machine then does the job of both the heart and the lungs:
Your doctor sews (grafts) one end of the healthy blood vessel just below the blocked artery. The other end of the healthy vessel is then sewn above the blocked artery. Blood flows through the new vessel, around the blocked area. This “detour” is the bypass graft. After bypass surgery, your blood flows more freely through your coronary arteries. So bypass surgery can lower your risk of heart attack.
A single bypass detours around one blocked artery. A double bypass detours around two blockages, and so on.
In addition to traditional bypass, some less invasive kinds of bypass surgery now exist. Neither of these two types of surgery uses the heart-lung machine. Your doctor can tell you whether either of these less invasive surgeries might work for you.
Minimally invasive bypass surgery-this requires a smaller incision near your ribs instead of the large incision through the breastbone.
Off-pump bypass surgery- a tool holds part of your heart still while the doctor operates. The rest of your heart beats as usual during this type of surgery.
Coronary bypass surgery is the most common type of vessel bypass. But blood vessels outside the heart-peripheral vessels- can also become blocked. This is called peripheral vascular disease (PVD), or peripheral artery disease. A bypass is sometimes needed to treat PVD.
The blood vessels in the leg are the peripheral vessels that most often get blocked. For bypass surgery on leg arteries, the healthy vessel is either another vessel from the leg or an artificial vessel. Peripheral artery bypass requires general anesthesia. However, because it is not a heart surgery, the heart-lung machine is not needed.
Usually you are told not to eat or drink anything for a number of hours before your surgery. You lie on an exam table and an intravenous (IV) line is put into your arm. The IV delivers fluids and medications during the surgery. You are then wheeled into the operating room, where you receive medication that makes you unconscious during the surgery. After surgery you may spend a few days in the intensive care unit (ICU). That’s to make sure your heart is pumping normally and your chest is healing normally. You are usually out of the hospital within a week. You may have pain at the incision site for several weeks, but medication is provided for pain. At home, recovery often takes 4-6 weeks.
After your bypass surgery, your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation. This involves a team of healthcare experts who work with you to help you recover. To avoid future heart-related problems, the team:
A stent is a tiny mesh tube that helps keep an artery open. Your doctor implants a stent in a newly opened artery to reduce the risk of repeat blockage or narrowing following an angioplasty procedure. Stents are often implanted in arteries supplying blood to your heart (coronary arteries) or neck (carotid arteries). A stent implant is a procedure that uses local numbing. General anesthesia is usually not needed.
There are two kinds of coronary artery stents: bare metal and drug-coated. A drug-coated stent is a bare-metal stent coated with a special medication, or drug, to help reduce the chance of the artery becoming blocked again. The drug
coating is released from the stent over the period of time when a new blockage is most likely to happen.
A drug-coated stent implant may reduce your need for a second procedure (such as a coronary stent procedure or bypass surgery) to re-open the artery.
Before a stent implant, your doctor may open the blocked artery by performing an atherectomy or a balloon angioplasty. Those procedures-and the stent
implant-involve a catheterization. During a catheterization, a small, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in your groin (or sometimes in your arm). Your doctor gently “steers” the catheter toward your blocked vessel.
Dye put in through the catheter allows your blood vessels to show up as images on a monitor-almost like roads on a map. (This part of the procedure is called an angiogram.) The catheterization and angiogram are typically part of a stent implant.
After clearing the blockage, the doctor uses a special catheter to place the stent in your newly opened artery. The stent helps:
Usually you are told not to eat or drink anything for a number of hours before the procedure. Your procedure will be performed in a “cath lab.” You lie on an exam table and an intravenous (IV) line is put into your arm. The IV delivers fluids and medications during the procedure. The medication makes you groggy, but not unconscious.
The doctor makes a small incision for the catheter. The area will be numbed so you shouldn’t feel pain, but you may feel some pressure as the catheter is inserted. During the stent implant your doctor or nurse might ask you questions to make sure you are not feeling pain, for instance. You may be in the hospital overnight, and there may be tenderness at the incision site. Most people have a fairly quick recovery.
Our knowledgeable and courteous staff will help set up a consultation for you, schedule surgical procedures, discuss your insurance, and answer any questions you may have.
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Palm Springs, CA 92262
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La Quinta, CA 92253
