A few basic questions can serve as a great starting point for a conversation with your interventional cardiologist about whether angioplasty and stenting is right for you and what you should do before, during and after the procedure. Not all patients who receive angioplasty will also require a stent. The decision about whether to insert a stent is guided by factors such as the location of the blockage and the likelihood of a reopened artery collapsing after angioplasty alone. Some sites where arteries branch or can bend are not good candidates for stenting. Most of the questions below apply to angioplasty alone or in conjunction with stenting.

Use the following questions as a tool to help you talk to your physician about angioplasty and stenting. We invite you to print them out and take them with you to your next appointment. Take notes to help you remember your discussion when you get home.

1. What are the benefits of the procedure for me?
2. What are the risks of angioplasty and stenting for me?
3. What are my alternatives?
4. Could I be treated with medicines instead of angioplasty and stenting?
5. Will angioplasty and stenting save my life?
6. Do I need a stent, or would angioplasty alone be just as effective?
7. How long will I need to stay in the hospital?
8. How long after the procedure before I can get back to my regular routine?
9. What limitations will I have after the procedure, both short and long term?
10. What follow-up is necessary after the procedure? What do I need to do?