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Hospital Procedures Atherectomy Atherectomy may be done to improve blood flow to your heart. During this procedure, a catheter with a special grinding device is used. This device clears away the plaque in your blocked artery. During the Procedure First, cardiac catheterization is done. Next, a catheter called a guiding catheter is put into the blocked artery. A guide wire is then put through the guiding catheter. This wire is moved to the narrowed spot in your artery. The doctor watches the wire on the video screen. The Catheter Is Positioned A special atherectomy catheter is threaded over the guide wire. The catheter is moved to the narrowed part of your artery. The Artery Is Unblocked The atherectomy catheter has a coarse burr near its tip. The doctor uses this burr to grind the plaque into small bits. These bits float away in the bloodstream. Blood Flow Is Improved After the atherectomy, the doctor may do a balloon angioplasty. This compresses any remaining plaque against the artery wall. Also, a stent may be placed. The catheters and guide wire are then removed. With the plaque reduced, blood flow to the heart muscle increases. Tell the Nurse If: You feel any chest pain or feel discomfort at the insertion site. The arm or leg closest to the insertion site becomes numb or cold. You feel warmth or wetness around the insertion site - a sign that you may be bleeding. You have swelling near the insertion site. |
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