Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a procedure that creates more space inside an artery that has plaque built up inside it. Your healthcare provider uses a tiny balloon to force plaque against the artery walls so blood can get through your artery. Often, they also place a stent or tube inside the newly opened space to keep it open.

What is Angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that opens arteries (large blood vessels) to let blood flow more easily. It most commonly treats atherosclerosis (a collection of plaque made of fat and cholesterol) in your arteries.

Angioplasty involves a tiny medical balloon that pushes plaque through in spots that are too narrow or blocked.

Angioplasties are generally safe procedures. They’re less invasive than other heart and vascular procedures, like bypass surgery.

Your cardiovascular health is very important to your overall health. Angioplasties are often necessary to try to prevent serious complications of atherosclerosis, like heart attack and stroke.

Types of Angioplasty

Healthcare providers use certain words to explain which arteries they’re treating. The two most common include:

Coronary artery angioplasty: The coronary arteries are major blood vessels that supply blood to your heart. Another name for this procedure is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Peripheral artery angioplasty: Peripheral arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from your heart to your extremities, like your legs and arms.

Different angioplasty techniques include:

Balloon angioplasty: Most angioplasty procedures involve a tiny medical balloon to move the plaque out of the way and off to the side of the artery wall.
Angioplasty with or without stenting: Your provider may or may not place a permanent stent (a small tube) in the newly opened artery to help keep it open. Stent placement comes after most angioplasties.
Excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA): This is an alternative to using a balloon to unblock a coronary artery. The laser destroys the plaque. It’s not as common as balloon angioplasty.

When Might I Need Angioplasty?

You may need angioplasty if you have:

A heart attack: Angioplasty may limit damage to your heart during or right after a heart attack. In this case, it’s an emergency treatment.
Carotid artery disease: The carotid arteries are in your neck. Left untreated, blocked carotid arteries can lead to a stroke.
Chronic kidney disease: When plaque collects in the arteries in your kidneys, it affects how much blood and oxygen can reach them. Sometimes, a renal (kidney) artery angioplasty can help.
Coronary artery disease (CAD): Your coronary arteries make it possible for your heart to beat and pump blood throughout your body. A blocked coronary artery can cause chest pain and/or a heart attack.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Angioplasty can clear plaque in the major arteries in your arms, legs, and pelvis. Without treatment, PAD can lead to pain, ulcers, and gangrene.

Your healthcare provider will use an angiogram (an imaging procedure) to help guide the angioplasty.

What happens during angioplasty?

In general, you can expect the following during angioplasty:

You change into a medical gown and lie on your back for the procedure.
A healthcare provider gives you medicine that makes you feel relaxed (a sedative) through an IV. But you’ll still be awake enough to follow instructions.
Certain monitors will keep track of your vital signs, like your pulse and oxygen levels, during the procedure.
A provider gives you local anesthesia to numb the area where they’ll access an artery. This is usually in your groin or arm. You may feel pressure in this area during the procedure, but you shouldn’t feel pain.
A provider accesses a blood vessel with a needle. They slide a sheath (or tube) over the needle and into a large artery.