Angioplastía Coronaria

This animation has been updated. Use the following link to view the updated version:    • Angioplastia coronaria (Acceso femoral)   If you would like to see more scientifically accurate 3D medical images, please subscribe to our channel:    / nucleushealthvideose   MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: The coronary angioplasty procedure is also known as percutaneous coronary intervention. The procedure is performed on blood vessels called coronary arteries. They supply oxygen to the heart muscle. The goal is to restore blood flow if a substance called plaque has significantly narrowed these vessels. To begin the procedure, the doctor numbs the skin in the groin. A needle is inserted through the skin and into the femoral artery. A flexible guidewire is then passed through the needle and into the artery. The needle is then removed and replaced with a small, flexible tube called a sheath. This allows access to the artery. You may feel pressure when the doctor inserts the sheath, but you will not feel it move inside the artery. The guidewire is then advanced to the heart. A flexible tube called a catheter is passed through the guidewire and into the coronary arteries. The progress of the procedure is checked with an X-ray device called a fluoroscope. At this point, your doctor removes the guidewire. The doctor then moves the tip of the catheter just inside the coronary artery to examine it. A special dye is injected into the artery. This allows the doctor to see it better with the fluoroscope. The dye highlights any blockages in the artery. If a significant blockage is found, the doctor inserts a guidewire into the artery. A balloon at the tip of the catheter is moved along the guidewire to the blockage. When the balloon is inflated, it expands the artery and improves blood flow. You may feel some discomfort in your chest while this is happening. After this, the doctor deflates and removes the balloon. A wire mesh tube, called a stent, can be placed in the treated area. The stent helps keep the coronary artery open. Your doctor chooses the appropriate stent size, which is compressed over a balloon. The stent is then guided into the artery. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands and locks into place. After the catheter and balloon are removed, the stent remains in place to keep the artery open. At the end of the procedure, the guidewire is removed. For more information about coronary angioplasty, talk to your healthcare provider. ANCE00178es