Coronary Angioplasty & Stent
A patient and family guide, Lucknow

Angioplasty opens a narrowed or blocked heart artery from the inside, using a tiny balloon and usually a stent, through a small tube in the wrist or groin. At Charak Hospital, Hardoi Road, Dubagga, DM cardiologists perform angiography and angioplasty in the cath lab, including emergency angioplasty for heart attacks.

Book a consultation Call 0522-666-4444
NABH-accredited hospital DM interventional cardiologists Cath lab & cardiac ICU 24×7 heart attack care

Ask about angioplasty

Share your details — our coordinator will call you back to schedule a visit.

Your details are used only to contact you about your appointment.

24×7 hospital & emergency0522-666-4444
About the procedure

What is angioplasty?

In coronary angioplasty (also called PTCA or PCI), the cardiologist passes a thin tube (catheter) from an artery in the wrist or groin to the heart. A small balloon is inflated at the narrowing to open it, and a stent — a tiny mesh tube — is usually placed to keep the artery open. You are awake but sedated, and there is no large cut.

  • Done in the cath lab under local anaesthesia
  • Usually through the wrist (radial) or groin (femoral)
  • Drug-eluting stents release medicine to reduce re-narrowing
  • Most planned patients go home in 1 to 2 days
  • Emergency angioplasty for heart attack, day and night

Angiography first

An X-ray dye test shows where the arteries are narrowed.

Balloon & stent

The narrowing is opened and supported.

Short stay

Walking the same or next day for most planned cases.

Medicines after

Blood thinners keep the stent open.

300Bed multispeciality hospital
NABHAccredited for quality and patient safety
24×7Emergency & critical care
27+Specialities under one roof
Who needs it

When is angioplasty advised?

Your cardiologist will advise angioplasty, bypass surgery or medicines based on your angiogram and symptoms.

Heart attack

Emergency angioplasty to open the blocked artery quickly.

Chest pain on exertion

Angina not controlled by medicines.

Breathlessness

Due to reduced blood supply to the heart.

Abnormal stress test

Showing a significant blockage.

One or two narrowings

Suitable for treatment with a stent.

Narrowing inside a stent

Treated with a balloon or another stent.

Chest pain lasting more than a few minutes, especially with sweating or breathlessness, may be a heart attack. Call 0522-666-4444 or come to the emergency department at once — early treatment saves heart muscle. Call 0522-666-4444.

Procedures

Angiography and angioplasty procedures

Tap a card to read more.

Coronary angiography

The test that shows blockages

What it is

Dye is injected into the heart arteries and X-ray pictures are taken.

Time

About 20–40 minutes.

After

Often home the same day.

Primary angioplasty

Emergency treatment of heart attack

When

As soon as possible after a heart attack starts.

Why

Opening the artery quickly limits heart damage.

Call

0522-666-4444, at any hour.

Planned angioplasty with stent

For stable angina

When

After angiography confirms a suitable narrowing.

Stent

A drug-eluting stent is used for most patients.

Stay

Usually 1–2 days.

Complex angioplasty

Several or difficult blockages

Includes

Long, branching or calcified narrowings.

Tools

Special balloons, imaging and plaque-modifying devices when needed.

Alternative

Bypass surgery may be advised for some patients.

Bypass surgery

No match found. Please call us on 0522-666-4444 — we will guide you.

Before the procedure

Tests and preparation

For planned angioplasty, these are usually done first.

ECG & echo

Heart rhythm and pumping.

Blood tests

Kidney function, sugar, blood count and clotting.

Stress test

For some patients, to show reduced blood flow.

Angiography

Confirms the location and severity of blockages.

Consent & estimate

Options, risks and costs explained.

Wrist or groin?

Tap an option to compare.

On the day

What happens during and after angioplasty

Here is what to expect.

Getting ready

You will be asked to fast for a few hours. Blood thinners are started before the procedure.

Fasting as advisedSome diabetes medicines adjustedAn IV line placed

Bring

  • Previous reports and angiography CD
  • List of medicines
  • Allergy information

Tell us if

  • You are allergic to dye or iodine
  • You have kidney disease
  • You take blood thinners
Your journey

From consultation to follow-up

Step 1

Consultation

Symptoms, ECG and echo reviewed by a cardiologist.

Step 2

Angiography

Shows where the arteries are narrowed.

Step 3

Plan & estimate

Angioplasty, bypass or medicines discussed, with costs.

Step 4

Angioplasty

Usually 30 to 90 minutes in the cath lab.

Step 5

Observation

Most planned patients go home in 1–2 days.

Step 6

Follow-up

Medicines reviewed; lifestyle and rehab advice.

Life after a stent

Living well after angioplasty

General guidance — always follow your cardiologist’s advice.

Blood thinners

Take your blood thinners every day, usually two for several months and one long term.

Stopping them early can cause the stent to block suddenly. Tell any doctor or dentist that you have a stent.

Activity

Gentle walking from the next day. Most people return to desk work within a week.

Avoid heavy lifting with the procedure arm for a few days.

Diet

Less salt, oil, sugar and fried food.

More vegetables, fruit, whole grains and dal.

Tobacco

Stop smoking and chewing tobacco completely.

Ask us for help to quit.

Contact us urgently if

  • Chest pain like the original pain
  • Bleeding or a growing swelling at the wrist or groin
  • Coldness, numbness or pain in the hand or leg used
  • Breathlessness or fainting
  • Black stools or other unusual bleeding
0522-666-4444
Myths & facts

Common worries about stents

Tap a card to see the fact.

Myth

“A stent cures heart disease.”

Tap to flip
Fact

A stent treats one narrowing. Medicines and lifestyle changes protect the rest of the arteries.

Myth

“Stents need to be changed every few years.”

Tap to flip
Fact

A stent stays in place permanently and does not need replacing.

Myth

“I cannot have an MRI or go through airport security with a stent.”

Tap to flip
Fact

Modern coronary stents are generally safe for MRI and airport scanners. Carry your stent card.

Myth

“After angioplasty I must avoid all exercise.”

Tap to flip
Fact

Regular walking and supervised exercise are good for the heart after recovery.

Your heart team

Meet our cardiologists

Cardiac sciences Bypass surgery Critical care
Practical help

Preparing for angioplasty, costs & insurance

A little preparation helps us plan your treatment.

What to bring to your visit

Tick off as you pack:

  • Previous ECGs, echo and angiography CD
  • A list of all medicines
  • Kidney function report, if you have one
  • Insurance card, Ayushman card or employer letter
  • A family member to accompany you

Costs & insurance

The cost of angioplasty depends on the number and type of stents, any special balloons or imaging used, and the length of stay. Stent prices follow government price controls. Ask for a written estimate after angiography.

  • ✓Written estimate— ask for one before planned procedures or admission.
  • ✓Health insurance & TPA— cashless treatment for admissions under tie-up insurers; outpatient visits depend on your policy.
  • ✓Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) accepted for eligible admissions.
  • ✓Corporate & PSU panels— ask whether your employer has a tie-up with Charak Hospital.

*Coverage depends on your policy and the treatment. Our insurance desk can check this for you.

Call 0522-666-4444
FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is angioplasty a surgery?

No. It is done through a small tube in the wrist or groin, under local anaesthesia, without a large cut.

How long does it take?

Usually 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the number of narrowings.

How long will I stay in hospital?

Most planned patients go home in 1 to 2 days. After a heart attack, the stay is usually longer.

What are the risks?

Risks include bleeding at the access site, reaction to dye, kidney strain, and rarely heart attack, stroke or the need for emergency surgery. Your cardiologist will explain your own risk.

How long do I need blood thinners?

Usually two blood thinners for 6 to 12 months and one long term. Your cardiologist will decide.

Can I choose angioplasty instead of bypass?

It depends on your angiogram. For some patterns of disease, bypass gives better long-term results. Your doctors will explain the options.

Is angioplasty covered by insurance?

Most health insurance policies and Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY cover angioplasty for eligible patients.

What should I do if I have chest pain at night?

Call 0522-666-4444 or come straight to the 24×7 emergency department.

Glossary

Words you may hear

PTCA / PCIPercutaneous coronary intervention — angioplasty.
StentA small mesh tube that keeps an artery open.
Drug-eluting stentA stent coated with medicine that reduces re-narrowing.
AngiographyAn X-ray dye test of the heart arteries.
Cath labThe room where angiography and angioplasty are done.
Primary angioplastyEmergency angioplasty for a heart attack.
RestenosisRe-narrowing of an artery after treatment.
AntiplateletA blood thinner that prevents clots in stents.

No matching term. Please ask your doctor at your next visit.

Related pages

Related departments and guides

Cardiac sciences Heart bypass surgery Valve surgery Diabetes care Critical care Diet & nutrition

Talk to our cardiologists

For planned angioplasty, book a consultation. For chest pain, call 0522-666-4444 now.

0522-666-4444 Request a call back

Your details are used only to contact you about your appointment.

Medical information disclaimer: This page provides general health information for patients and families. It is not a substitute for a consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a qualified doctor. Treatment decisions depend on each patient's individual condition. In an emergency, call 0522-666-4444 or go to the nearest emergency department.

About this page: Prepared by the Charak Hospital web team with the help of AI writing tools, using information from the Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Charak Hospital & Research Centre ·  Last updated: October 2026

Explore other clinical departments
Call hospital Book visit

Videos

Watch our doctors explain

Short talks by Charak Hospital doctors on symptoms, prevention and treatment. General information only — not a substitute for a consultation.

All videos on YouTube →