Coronary Intervention

Once the catheter and wire are in place, a small balloon is inflated at the site of the blockage. This opens up the artery and improves blood flow to the heart.

In some cases, a stent (a small metal scaffold) may be placed at the site of the blockage to keep the artery open.

For more info, we recommend reviewing the following resources:

• UCSF Health
• Cleveland Clinic

2 - 3 days before your procedure, you will receive an email containing a link to your patient portal, where you can complete a pre-op questionnaire. Please be sure to complete this important document before you arrive at the facility.

24-48 hours before your procedure, expect a call from the center to discuss details of your upcoming procedure. In this call, we'll discuss details of your procedure like arrival times, approved medications, and other important information. If your procedure is scheduled for a Monday, a member of our team will contact you on Thursday or Friday.

Be sure to ask your doctor any questions or clarify any concerns you may have.

Inform the doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to contrast dye as it will be used during the procedure. Also, inform the provider if you have any kidney or bleeding disorders.

Take your prescribed medications unless directed otherwise by your doctor.

At midnight before your procedure, do not eat or drink aside from small sips of water to take medications approved during your call with the center.

Please note that you will not be allowed to drive yourself home after the procedure so ensure you have made plans for a responsible party to drive you to and from the center on the day of your procedure.

Please refrain from smoking!

Day of your procedure

Arrive at the designated time discussed in your pre-op phone call — typically, one hour before your scheduled procedure time.

The center is located at 1615 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Deltona, FL. On our Directions page, we have common routes and printable directions.

For your comfort and the safety of others, please be advised that only one family member or adult is allowed to accompany you.

What to wear

• Please wear loose, comfortable clothing with a button-front shirt and slip-on footwear.
• Please wear your glasses, hearing aids, and dentures.
• Please be sure to remove body piercings and jewelry.

What to bring

• Insurance cards
• Photo identification
• All current medications
• A change of clothes if desired for your car ride home

Take your blood pressure medications and any other meds your doctor approved to take the morning of your procedure with a small sip of water.

If you have diabetes, please check your blood sugar before coming to our facility.

Please be prepared to stay for at least 3 - 6 hours at the center for your procedure and recovery.

Before your procedure ("Pre-Op")

Our team will be available to answer any questions you have. We'll provide consent forms for your review and signature before heading into your private room to help you change into a surgical gown.

The preferred site for your procedure will be cleaned and prepared by our team of nurses. For your comfort and hydration, we'll place an IV to deliver fluids and relaxing medicine to alleviate any anxiety or discomfort.

After you're prepped for the procedure, your driver can stay with you until the procedure begins.

Your physician will greet you before the procedure, and you will be able to ask any further questions for clarification.

During the procedure, you'll be positioned on your back on our state-of-the-art imaging table. Our highly skilled team is here to make sure you're comfortable and will be in communication with you throughout the entire procedure to make sure you are safe and comfortable.

Your family member will be able to monitor your progress from the waiting room using our confidential patient tracker.

Coronary Intervention procedures conducted at the Ambulatory Surgery center include: :

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

This procedure is usually performed after a heart catheterization is performed, and your doctor determines that it is in your best interest to have an intervention done to open a blocked artery. Not all blockages can be fixed with balloon angioplasty, and In some cases, a stent (a small metal scaffold) may be placed at the site of the blockage to keep the artery open. All options will be discussed with you by your cardiologist, to make the best health care decisions for you.

The procedure is typically an additional 30 minutes longer than a cardiac catheterization which is approximately 30 minutes.

After the procedure, you'll recover in one of our private recovery rooms, where one of your family members may join you.

Your physician will discuss the results of the procedure and the course of treatment, if applicable.

Recovery time is dependent on your condition and the type of procedure you had; however, typical recovery times are 1-4 hours. If the physician made an incision in your groin, you will need to lay flat for at least 2 hours. During your stay, we will provide you with nourishment and beverages once you can eat and drink safely.

Be sure to report any swelling, pain, or bleeding at the puncture site or if you experience any chest pain.

We'll provide you with electronic or written instructions on what to do at home as you recover.

General Instructions

• Do NOT drive, make any legal decisions, or consume alcohol for 24 hours following your procedures.
• Have a responsible party stay with you for 24 hours after your procedure.
• Avoid strenuous or athletic activity for 5-7 days following your procedure. Do not lift anything greater than 5lbs during this time. A gallon of milk is too much.
• If you smoke, talk to your provider about quitting. Please do not smoke for 24 hours

When can I eat?

• Eat light after surgery: start with liquids such as soups, Jell-O, or 7-Up, and progress to a normal diet if you are not nauseated.
• You should eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise, and follow a healthy lifestyle. Your provider can refer you to other health experts who can help you learn about exercise and nutritious foods that will fit into your lifestyle.

Prescription Medications

• You can restart your regular medications when you return home unless otherwise instructed by the provider.

• Some post-op site tenderness is to be expected. You may take pain meds or use Ice to counteract this. If the pain becomes severe or is not controlled by medications, please call your provider.

• If the cardiologist prescribes you a blood thinner, it is essential to take it to keep your stent patent.

• Post-Op Dressing/Bandage

• Keep the dressing clean and dry. Do not shower for 24 hours after your procedure.

• When you shower, you may remove the dressing. Avoid submerging the surgical site in a pool, ocean, or jacuzzi for seven days.

Follow-up Appointment

An appointment should be made for you to be seen 7-13 days post-operatively. Call the cardiologist's office to confirm or schedule the appointment.

Call 911 and update your provider if:

• There is bleeding at the catheter insertion site that does not stop when you apply pressure.
• Your arm or leg below where the catheter was inserted changes color, is cool to the touch, or is numb.
• The small incision for your catheter becomes red or painful, or yellow or green discharge is draining from it.
• You have chest pain or shortness of breath that does not go away with rest.
• Your pulse feels irregular -- it is especially slow (fewer than 60 beats a minute) or very fast (over 100 to 120 beats a minute).
• You feel dizzy or pass out.
• You are coughing up blood or yellow or green mucus.
• You have problems taking any of your heart medications.
• You have chills or a fever over 101°F (38.3°C).