Table of Contents
What is angioplasty?
Angioplasty is a non-surgical procedure. Angioplasty is used to open blocked or narrow coronary arteries (these blood vessels supply blood to our heart), to restore normal blood supply to the heart.
Is angioplasty a surgery?
Angioplasty is not a surgery. It is a non-surgical procedure.
Angioplasty with balloon:
In this procedure, a balloon catheter is inserted into an artery of either an arm or leg and gently guided into a coronary artery (which is clogged or narrow). The clogged sites or plaques are located through angiography. After locating the plaque, the balloon catheter is advanced to the point of obstruction, and balloon is inflated with air. Inflation of the balloon pushes the plaque against the arterial wall, widening the lumen. This normalizes the blood flow to the heart.
Fig. Balloon Angioplasty
Angioplasty with stent:
Angioplasty with balloon has 30% to 50% failure due to re-narrowing within six months of the procedure. To prevent re-narrowing, angioplasty with stent is done. Stent is a tube made of fine metallic wire. This stent is inserted via a catheter after angioplasty is done. Stent is permanently placed in the artery to keep the artery open. In order to prevent damage to the arterial wall with this procedure, recently drug releasing stents have been used instead of bare metal stents to reduce the rate of arterial damage.
