Coronary Angioplasty (Balloon and Stent)

No, the patient is awake during coronary angioplasty procedures. Only the wrist or groin area to be entered is numbed with local anesthesia (needle). Because there are no pain nerves inside the vessels, the patient does not feel pain while a balloon or stent is placed in their heart.

Today, new generation drug-coated (drug-eluting) stents are used. These stents largely prevent the inner lining of the vessel from reacting to the metal and overgrowing (and becoming blocked again). However, there is always a risk of re-blockage if the patient does not quit smoking, does not stick to their diet, and does not take their blood thinners.

In planned stent procedures (non-emergency heart attacks), the patient is usually kept under observation in the hospital for 1 night and discharged home the next day. The time to stand up is much shorter for procedures performed through the wrist.