Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)

What to Expect

What to Do the Night Before

1. Your physician will give you instructions regarding how to schedule the procedure at the clinic or hospital. Make sure you follow all instructions carefully so that everything will be in order at the scheduled time.
   
   
2. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your procedure. Your physician will most likely tell you to take your regular medications with small sips of water the morning of your procedure; however, certain medications may be omitted if the physician instructs you to do so. If your procedure is scheduled later in the day, you may be able to have a clear liquid breakfast, such as juice and coffee or tea, early in the morning prior to your procedure. Ask your physician about this if your procedure scheduled for mid-day or later in the afternoon.
   
   
3. Pack an overnight bag, as you will spend the night in the hospital following the procedure. Include your pajamas or gown, a robe, slippers, a change of underwear, and toilet articles such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.
   
   
4. Arrange to have someone drive you home from the hospital once you are discharged, as you will not be allowed to drive for a few days following the procedure.
   
   
5. Bring a list of all medications you are currently taking.
   
   
6. If your physician already knows that you have valve disease, you will be given an antibiotic to take before the procedure.

Diagnostic Tests Before the Procedure

Several procedures or tests are usually completed at some point prior to PTCA. These tests may include:

• electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias), and detects heart muscle damage.
  
  
• blood work, which may include, but is not limited to:
  
  
  • blood count
    
    
  • cardiac isoenzymes (to check for damage to the heart muscle)
    
    
  • electrolytes (such as potassium, calcium, and sodium)
    
    
  • bleeding studies (to assess the blood-clotting process)
    
    
  • kidney function tests
    
    
• chest x-ray - a diagnostic test that uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.
  
  
• myocardial perfusion study - a type of nuclear scan that uses very small amounts of radioactive materials (radiopharmaceuticals) to assess the heart's function and structure; two common studies are radionuclide angiography and myocardial perfusion scan.
  
  
• echocardiography - a noninvasive (the skin is not pierced) procedure that assesses the heart's function and structures with ultrasonic sound waves.

Scheduling/Registration Information

Where the Procedure is Done

Who Performs the Procedure

Directions to the Hospital

It is important to arrive at your scheduled time. Your procedure may not begin immediately due to varying lengths of procedures scheduled before your procedure. You will be updated as frequently as possible.

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