Angioplasty is a procedure used to remove a blockage or obstruction in your arteries. During an angioplasty procedure, an interventional cardiologist inserts a balloon into your artery and then inflates it with air or saline solution. The balloon helps open up the narrowed or blocked area of the artery, allowing blood flow to flow more freely.
If the artery is completely blocked, a stent may be implanted to keep the artery open. A stent is a small metal mesh tube that props open the artery and keeps it from closing. This procedure is used to treat coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease occurs when there’s a blockage in one or more of the arteries that supply blood to your heart, which can lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and heart attacks.
The balloon angioplasty procedure is performed in a hospital or outpatient center under local anesthesia. The doctor inserts a catheter into an artery in your groin and guides it through the arteries until it reaches the site of the blockage. Then, a deflated balloon is fed through the catheter and expanded to stretch open the artery walls.
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