WHAT IS A DOTTER TREATMENT?Angioplasty is named after the American heart specialist Charles T. Dotter, who invented this procedure. Other names include balloon dilation, balloon dilation, or angioplasty. An angioplasty procedure involves dilating a narrowed artery using a small balloon. You may be eligible for this treatment if the narrowing is causing symptoms. A narrowing in the artery is caused by atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Known risk factors for atherosclerosis include smoking, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes mellitus (diabetes), and high blood cholesterol (for more information, see the brochure on arterial disease ).
Sometimes the narrowing is so calcified that it is impossible to compress it. In that case, the angioplasty treatment may fail.HOW IS A DOTTER TREATMENT PERFORMED?The angioplasty procedure requires a short hospital stay, typically 1 to 2 days.
In the X-ray department, the radiologist will take you to the examination room. You will then lie down on the examination table. Both groins will be shaved and cleaned with iodine beforehand. You will then be covered with sterile green sheets to prevent infection. The radiologist and radiologist will therefore wear sterile gowns and gloves.
You will receive an injection in the groin to administer the anesthetic. Once the anesthetic has taken effect, the radiologist will insert a needle into the femoral artery. A thin tube, a catheter over a guidewire, will be inserted into the femoral artery. You will hardly notice this. Once the catheter is in the correct position, a contrast dye will be injected, making the blood vessels visible on the X-ray. The contrast dye will cause a warm sensation. This will subside fairly quickly, but it is very important that you remain still for the X-rays.
A small balloon will then be advanced via the guide wire already in your blood vessel, up to the blockage that will be treated with angioplasty. Once the balloon is in the correct position, it will be inflated to high pressure, stretching the blockage in the blood vessel. The balloon will remain inflated for several seconds to several minutes. This can be somewhat painful. Usually, this stretching of the blood vessel must be repeated several times to achieve a good result. Some blockages may spontaneously return after angioplasty. In such cases, it may be necessary to place a stent at the site of the blockage. A stent is a braided metal tube that ensures that the blood vessel remains stretched after the angioplasty.
After the angioplasty procedure, the guide catheter is removed, and the arterial puncture site is compressed for about 10 minutes. Finally, you will receive a pressure bandage in your groin and you will return to bed.AFTER THE ANDOTER TREATMENTYou will be returned to the ward, where you will need to remain in bed for approximately six hours. The nurse will give you instructions on the desired bed rest.
You may eat and drink immediately after the procedure. It is important that you drink plenty of fluids after the procedure to help you flush out the contrast dye quickly.
You will be prescribed medication starting the day of the angioplasty procedure. This is usually acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, Ascal). These medications inhibit the natural progression of atherosclerosis. In addition, you must ensure that the atherosclerosis progresses as little as possible. You can do this by living as healthily as possible: do not smoke, get plenty of exercise, and avoid being overweight. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, treatment is necessary.
You can return home after one or two days. You will be given an appointment for the outpatient clinic upon departure.
In some cases, the narrowing of the artery returns after a short or long period of time following angioplasty. The procedure can then be repeated. In younger people (under the age of sixty) this is necessary more often because the narrowing is often much more elastic because there is little calcium left in it.COMPLICATIONSNo examination involving puncture of blood vessels is without risks. Complications can also arise during or after angioplasty.
An allergic reaction to the contrast agent can occur if you are hypersensitive to iodine. If you are known to have this hypersensitivity, you must inform us in advance. This allows the doctor to take this into account and administer certain medications in advance of the examination.
Despite the pressure bandage, the puncture in the blood vessel can reopen, causing bleeding in the groin. Treatment is necessary for this, which can involve prolonged pressure under ultrasound guidance or an injection of a blood clotting agent. Very rarely, surgery is even necessary to close the puncture.
A blood clot can form in a blood vessel in the leg. In such cases, rapid surgery to remove the clot is sometimes necessary.
In addition, a bruise may develop in the groin after the examination. This is unpleasant, but it will disappear over time. |
