Peripheral Artery or Venous Angioplasty: Before Your Procedure

Peripheral artery angioplasty (say "puh-RIFF-er-rull AR-ter-ree ANN-jee-oh-plass-tee") and venous angioplasty (also called venoplasty) are procedures that widen narrowed arteries or veins in the pelvis, legs, or arms. These procedures can help blood flow better. This may decrease pain or help wounds heal better.

You may be asleep for the procedure. Or you may be awake. You will get medicine to prevent pain and help you relax. First, your doctor will do a test to find narrowed arteries or veins. Your doctor will put a tiny tube into an artery or vein usually in your groin or wrist. This tube is called a catheter. The doctor moves the catheter through the blood vessel and puts a dye into it. The dye makes your blood vessels show up on X-ray pictures. This lets the doctor see any narrowed parts of the arteries or veins.

If your doctor finds a narrowed artery or vein, they may do an angioplasty. To do this, the doctor uses a catheter with a balloon at the tip. It goes into the artery or vein. The doctor moves the balloon to the narrowed area and inflates it. The balloon presses against the walls of the blood vessel. This makes more room for blood to flow. The doctor may also put a stent in your artery or vein. A stent is a small tube that helps keep the blood vessel open.

You may go home the same day. Or you may spend the night in the hospital. For 1 or 2 days after the procedure, you will need to take it easy at home.

Procedures can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for your procedure.

• Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
• Understand exactly what procedure is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your procedure. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
• Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your procedure. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the procedure and how soon to do it.
• Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don’t have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It’s a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.

• Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking. If you don't, your procedure may be canceled. If your doctor told you to take your medicines on the day of the procedure, take them with only a sip of water.
• Take a bath or shower before you come in for your procedure. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish.
• Take off all jewelry and piercings. And take out contact lenses, if you wear them.

• Bring a picture ID.
• You will be kept comfortable and safe by your anesthesia provider. You may be asleep. Or you may get medicine that relaxes you or puts you in a light sleep. The area being worked on will be numb.
• The procedure may take about 1½ to 3 hours.
• After the procedure, pressure may be applied to the area where the catheter was put in your blood vessel. This will help prevent bleeding. A small device may also be used to close the blood vessel. The area may be covered with a bandage or a compression device.
• Nurses will check your heart rate and blood pressure. The nurse will also check the catheter site for bleeding.
• If the catheter was put in your groin, you will need to lie still and keep your leg straight for up to a few hours. The nurse may put a weighted bag on your leg to keep it still.
• If the catheter was put in your wrist, you may be able to sit up right away. But you may need to keep your arm still for at least 2 hours.
• You may have a bruise or a small lump where the catheter was put in your blood vessel. This is normal and will go away.