Angioplasty in Faridabad
Angioplasty opens a narrowed or blocked heart artery, usually with a stent, to restore blood flow to the heart muscle. It is a common treatment for heart blockage and heart attack.
- Cardiology
- 5-step procedure
At a glance
- Department
- Cardiology
- Hospital
- Goga Ji Hospital
- Location
- Jawahar Colony, Near Disposal Chowk, Faridabad
- Appointments
- +91-9266088551
This page explains what the procedure involves, who it suits, what recovery typically looks like and what the risks are, so you arrive at your appointment already informed rather than deciding on the spot.
What is angioplasty?
Angioplasty opens a narrowed or blocked artery supplying the heart. A fine tube is passed through an artery in the wrist or groin up to the heart, a balloon is inflated at the narrowing to push it open, and a stent — a small metal mesh tube — is usually left behind to hold it open.
It is done both as a planned procedure for angina and as an emergency treatment during a heart attack, where opening the artery quickly limits the damage to heart muscle. It is not open surgery: there is no incision in the chest, and most people are up and about the next day.
Who needs it
Angioplasty is considered when a significant narrowing is causing symptoms or putting heart muscle at risk.
- During a heart attack, to reopen the blocked artery — this is an emergency and time-critical
- Angina limiting daily activity despite medication
- A significant narrowing found on coronary angiography
- Chest pain with evidence of reduced blood supply on testing
- Return of symptoms after a previous stent or bypass
Types
The variations are mostly about what is left behind and how it is delivered.
Balloon angioplasty
The narrowing is stretched open with a balloon. Used alone in selected situations.
Stenting
A stent is deployed to hold the artery open. Most modern stents are drug-eluting, releasing medication that reduces the chance of the artery re-narrowing.
Primary angioplasty
Emergency angioplasty performed during a heart attack, where speed determines how much heart muscle is saved.
How the procedure works
You are awake but sedated. The procedure usually takes between 30 and 90 minutes depending on how many arteries are involved.
- 1
Access
Local anaesthetic is given at the wrist or groin and a thin sheath is placed into the artery. You should feel pressure rather than pain.
- 2
Angiography
Contrast dye is injected and X-ray images show the arteries and exactly where the narrowings are.
- 3
Crossing the narrowing
A fine wire is passed across the blockage, and a balloon catheter is advanced over it.
- 4
Opening the artery
The balloon is inflated to open the narrowing. You may feel brief chest discomfort as this happens — tell the team if you do.
- 5
Stent placement
A stent is deployed to hold the artery open, and final images confirm blood flow has been restored.
Preparing for it
For a planned procedure. In an emergency, none of this delays treatment.
- Blood tests, including kidney function, since the contrast dye is processed by the kidneys
- Tell the team about any allergy, particularly to contrast dye or iodine
- Bring a complete list of medicines. Some diabetes and blood-thinning medicines need adjusting beforehand
- Fasting instructions will be given — follow them exactly
- Arrange for someone to accompany you home
Recovery
Recovery is quick compared with surgery, but the medication afterwards is not optional.
- 1
First few hours
You will be monitored, and the access site watched for bleeding. If the wrist was used, you can usually sit up and move sooner than with a groin approach.
- 2
Next day
Most people go home within a day or two after a planned procedure, longer after a heart attack.
- 3
First week
Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity. Keep the access site clean and dry, and watch for swelling or bleeding.
- 4
Weeks 2 to 6
Gradual return to normal activity, often with a structured plan for exercise. Most people return to office work within a week or two.
Risks and complications
Angioplasty is a routine procedure in experienced hands, but it is a procedure on the heart and it carries risk.
- Bleeding or bruising at the access site, occasionally needing treatment
- Damage to the artery being treated
- Re-narrowing of the treated artery over time
- Clot forming inside the stent — which is why the prescribed blood-thinning medication must not be stopped without cardiology advice
- Kidney impairment from the contrast dye, more likely if kidney function is already reduced
- Irregular heart rhythm during the procedure
- Rarely, heart attack, stroke, or a need for emergency bypass surgery
Ask about your own risk
These are the risks of the procedure in general. Your personal risk depends on your age, other conditions and the specifics of your case — ask your surgeon to put a figure on it for you before you consent.
Care at Goga Ji Hospital
Angioplasty is carried out by the cardiology department at Goga Ji Hospital, with intensive care and the critical care team on the same site for monitoring afterwards, and cardiac surgery available where it becomes the better option.
Frequently asked questions
Is angioplasty major surgery?
No. There is no incision in the chest and no general anaesthetic — access is through a small puncture in the wrist or groin, and you are awake but sedated. Recovery is measured in days rather than weeks.
How long do I need to take medication after a stent?
Blood-thinning medication is essential for a defined period after stenting, and stopping it early significantly raises the risk of a clot forming inside the stent. The duration depends on the stent and your circumstances — never stop it without asking your cardiologist, including before dental or other surgery.
Will the blockage come back?
The treated segment can re-narrow, though modern drug-eluting stents have made this much less common. Just as importantly, angioplasty treats a blockage but not the underlying disease — controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and smoking is what protects the rest of your arteries.
Angioplasty or bypass surgery — which is better?
Neither is universally better. It depends on how many arteries are affected, where the narrowings are, whether you have diabetes, and your overall health. Your cardiologist will explain why one is being recommended in your case, and you are entitled to ask about the alternative.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your history, medication or test results. Please speak to a qualified doctor about your own symptoms and treatment. If you think you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate help.
Considering angioplasty?
Talk to our cardiology team at Goga Ji Hospital, Faridabad, about whether it is the right option for you.