A team made up of a trained interventional cardiologist, a registered nurse, cardiac cath lab technician is required to perform this procedure accurately and safely. Each team member must be certified and prepared for many years in the PTCA technique. 

Thorough medication reconciliation should be done before the procedure. If the patient is not already on aspirin 81 mg, they should be started on it. Guidelines also recommend initiation of P2Y12 inhibitors before percutaneous transluminal coronary arteriography. 

The diabetic medication metformin is held before cardiac catheterization to avoid worsening renal insufficiency and lactic acidosis.

Food and drink are restricted for at least 6-8 hours before the procedure to reduce the risk for aspiration. However, sometimes this is not feasible. If the patient requires an emergent catheterization, the procedure should not be postponed due to recent oral intake.

When cases are performed via radial artery access, patients are often given an intra-arterial calcium channel blocker, nitroglycerin, and heparin to prevent vasospasm.

The health care provider should also thoroughly explain the procedure and its associated risks and complications to the patient to obtain a signed informed consent.

The first step for percutaneous transluminal coronary arteriography is to gain access.

There are multiple access points available including the radial, femoral, and ulnar arteries. Radial access is now the preferred access point as it has lower rates of complications. However, the femoral approach is still done quite often in patients with end-stage renal disease to preserve future access points for dialysis.

A needle is inserted into the chosen artery for access. A guide-wire is then passed through the needle and into the arterial system up to the heart. Using real-time fluoroscopy, a flexible catheter is slipped over the wire and guided up to the heart. At this point, the guide-wire is removed, and the tip of the catheter is positioned to enter the coronary artery.

Contrast dye is then injected into the opening of the coronary arteries. Fluoroscopy is then used to provide the real-time radiographic images of the coronary arteries. Several different views are used to capture all the coronary arteries. These views include LAO cranial view, LAO caudal (aka spider view), RAO cranial view, and RAO caudal view.

Blockages less than 2 mm or smaller than the catheter are considered by many operators, not to be candidates for ballooning. Once the blockage is identified and determined to be safe for PTCA, a flexible guide-wire is threaded through the catheter and up to the heart. The flexible catheter is removed, and the guide-wire is advanced into the blocked coronary artery. A balloon-tipped catheter is then inserted over the guide-wire and positioned at the site of the blockage. Inflation and deflation of the catheter balloon push the artery wall out reestablishing the flow of blood in the artery. Each time the balloon is re-inflated, it blows up a little further. This procedure is done in stages to ensure the artery wall will not dissect.

Once the arterial flow is re-established, the balloon-tipped catheter is removed. The treatment procedure is repeated in case there are multiple blockages. Some patients may require a stent, called coronary stent angioplasty. The stent is a small tube made of wire mesh designed to keep the arteries open. A collapsed stent is placed over a deflated balloon catheter and positioned at the site of the blockage. The balloon catheter is then inflated which expands the stent until it locks in place. Then the deflated balloon and catheter are withdrawn. They are leaving the stent behind to hold the artery open. Most coronary angioplasty procedures last between 30 minutes to 3 hours. Once the process is completed, a pressure bandage is placed over the access site to prevent hemorrhage and hematoma. If femoral access were used, the patient would need to lay flat for several hours during which time the signs of bleeding or chest pain are monitored. Most patients can return home the same day as the procedure. 

Multiple studies following percutaneous transluminal coronary arteriography have revealed an increased risk of new-onset arrhythmias, angina, aneurysm, arteritis, coronary artery aneurysm, congestive heart failure, renal failure, groin infection, myocardial infarction, hemorrhage, hematoma, thrombus, pancreatitis, and death to be possible complications of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. [1] [2] [3] In 1994, Carey and colleagues studied the need for emergency surgical intervention following percutaneous transluminal coronary arteriography complications and found that postoperative complications were higher in the former percutanous transluminal arteriography group with stroke and arrhythmias. [4]  In 1996, White and colleagues published a study that showed a strong association between coronary thrombus and post-operative complications following percutanous tranluminal coronary arteriography. [5]

The advent of the percutaneous transluminal arteriography was a monumental turning point in the field of Cardiology. It offered patients a nonsurgical method of identifying and treating coronary artery disease. 

Percutaneous transluminal arteriography is a minor procedure but can be connected with many serious complications. A Heart Team interprofessional approach [level 1] [6]  is recommended and the ideal way to limit the complexities of this procedure. Before the intervention, the patient should have the following done:

• Preoperative evaluation including a thorough physical examination and electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Timely stress testing with either exercise or chemical stress testing if appropriate.
• Pre-procedure imaging including an echocardiogram to assess the structure and function of the heart.
• Pre-procedure evaluation by Anesthesiologist to ensure that the patient is fit for general anesthesia.

The team should include a coordinated effort involving the specialty-trained nurse assisting with patient education and monitoring. The cardiology trained pharmacist specialist should evaluate for drug-drug interactions and any medications that may result in complications during the procedure. The clinicians should work with the team to maintain an open line of communication so that the best outcomes can be achieved. [Level 5]