PTCA and anticoags

Hi all,

I'm reviewing for my HESI exam and one question asked what med to give during a PTCA procedure? Answer is anticoags. The rationale was to prevent arterial spasms (along with nitrates and Ca). Can anyone explain this to me

Thanks!

I wouldn't say anticoags are used to prevent arterial spasms...that is what CCBs are for.

A PTCA is basically when a stent is placed in an occluded vessel (from plaque) to increase patency. The stents can cause coagulation, which is why you need to put the patient on anticoagulants.

I am drawing a huge blank here at the moment, but there are two different types of stents - one is just a bare metal stent and the other is called a DES (drug-eluting stent). the DES contains meds that prevent scarring around the vessel which will also prevent restenosis (regrowth of tissue around the stent in the vessel = occluding that vessel once again). With one stent you have to be on anticoags for only 6 weeks and for the other you have to be on anticoags for at least 6 months but I am drawing a blank on which one is which.

I hope this helps answer your question!

Thanks! I figured the anticoags were for strictly that- anticoag but the rationale they gave was awful. I'm assumed that the Ca helps with spasms to an extent. Who knows.

Either way, I passed the exam this morning! haha