About Coronary Angioplasty
Key Highlights
-
Minimally invasive procedure with no large chest incisions required.Effectively restores blood flow to the heart, relieving chest pain (angina).Can be a life-saving emergency treatment during a heart attack.Typically involves a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery than bypass surgery.Uses stent placement to provide long-term support to keep the artery open.
Who is this surgery for?
- Acute Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) to quickly open the blocked artery.
- Unstable Angina (chest pain that occurs even at rest or is worsening).
- Stable Angina that is not adequately controlled with medication.
- Positive results from a stress test or other diagnostics indicating significant coronary artery blockage.
- High-grade blockage (usually 70% or more) in one or more major coronary arteries.
How to prepare
- Undergo diagnostic tests like an angiogram to map the coronary arteries.
- Discuss all current medications with your doctor; you may need to stop blood thinners.
- Fast (no food or drink) for several hours before the procedure.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after hospital discharge.
- Inform the medical team of any allergies, especially to iodine or contrast dye.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding or bruising at the catheter insertion site.
- Damage to the blood vessel used for catheter access.
- Allergic reaction to the contrast dye used during imaging.
- Blood clot formation within the treated artery or stent (stent thrombosis).
- Rare complications include heart attack, stroke, kidney injury from contrast dye, or need for emergency bypass surgery.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial monitoring for 4-6 hours in a recovery area; hospital stay is typically overnight.
- Keep the insertion site (wrist/groin) clean, dry, and avoid strenuous activity with that limb.
- Drink plenty of fluids to help flush the contrast dye from your kidneys.
- Adhere strictly to prescribed medications, especially antiplatelet drugs (like aspirin/clopidogrel) to prevent clots.
- Attend all follow-up appointments and participate in a supervised cardiac rehabilitation program.
-
Typical hospital stay: 1-2 days
-
Expected recovery time: 1-2 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering coronary angioplasty in South Korea, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in South Korea with cardiac surgery departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform coronary angioplasty. MediFyr helps you compare cardiac surgeons and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for coronary angioplasty compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | USD 2,835 – USD 8,505 | 1-2 days | ~ 1-2 weeks | Know More |
| Thailand | USD 2,880 – USD 10,080 | 1-2 days | ~ 1-2 weeks | Know More |
| South Korea | USD 2,880 – USD 10,080 | 1-2 days | ~ 1-2 weeks | Know More |
| India | USD 1,637 – USD 4,910 | 1-2 days | ~ 1-2 weeks | Know More |
| Turkey | USD 12,093 – USD 36,278 | 1-2 days | ~ 1-2 weeks | Know More |
I'd been to a couple of...
I'd been to a couple of other doctors for this nagging fatigue and stomach pain. They said it was just stress. Dr. Babu Vinish actually listened, asked a ton of questions I hadn't been asked before, and ordered some specific tests. Turns out it was a tricky thyroid issue affecting my digestion. He explained it all on a notepad, drawing little diagrams. I finally felt like someone had found the right puzzle pieces.