Primary angioplasty

Primary angioplasty is a medical procedure used to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as a heart attack. It is a type of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) that involves the use of a balloon catheter to open a blocked coronary artery and restore blood flow to the heart.

Procedure

The primary angioplasty procedure begins with the insertion of a catheter into an artery, usually in the groin or wrist. The catheter is then guided to the blocked coronary artery using fluoroscopy, a type of medical imaging. Once the catheter is in place, a small balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated to open the blocked artery. In many cases, a stent is also placed in the artery to keep it open after the procedure.

Effectiveness

Primary angioplasty is considered the gold standard treatment for AMI. Numerous studies have shown that it is more effective than thrombolytic therapy, another treatment for AMI, in reducing mortality and the risk of recurrent heart attacks. However, the effectiveness of primary angioplasty depends on how quickly it is performed after the onset of heart attack symptoms.

Risks and Complications

Like all medical procedures, primary angioplasty carries some risks. These include bleeding at the catheter insertion site, damage to the artery where the catheter was inserted, and rare but serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, and death. The risk of complications is higher in older patients and those with other health conditions.

See Also

• Acute myocardial infarction
• Percutaneous coronary intervention
• Thrombolytic therapy