Angioplasty is a process to re-open or enlarge blood vessels that are closed or occluded. It may involve one of several techniques including expanding a small balloon in the vessel, injecting agents to dissolve clots, or inserting a metal device called a stent to keep the vessel open.
Angioplasty can improve some of the symptoms of CAD, such as angina (chest pain) and shortness of breath. It also can reduce damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack and reduce the risk of death in some patients. You may need angioplasty if medicines and lifestyle changes haven’t improved your symptoms of CAD. You also may need angioplasty as emergency treatment during a heart attack.
Before angioplasty is done, your doctor will need to know whether your coronary arteries are blocked. To find out, he or she will do an angiogram and take an x-ray picture of your arteries to show any blockages and where they’re located. Once your doctor has this information, the angioplasty can proceed.
During angioplasty, your doctor will use a small tube called a catheter with a balloon at the end. The balloon will be threaded through an artery to the blockage. The balloon is blown up (inflated), pushing the plaque outward against the artery wall. This opens the artery more and improves blood flow through it.
During angioplasty, a stent (mesh tube) is often placed in the artery that has been opened. The stent reduces the chance that the artery will become blocked again in the future. The stent remains in place after the procedure. Most people go home 1 to 2 days after having angioplasty. Full recovery from the procedure is usually 1 week or less.
Lifestyles changes are recommended after angioplasty to improve CAD and to prevent the arteries from becoming narrowed or blocked again. Lifestyle changes include a healthy diet, weight control, medicines to lower high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, regular physical activity, and quitting smoking. Angioplasty is a common medical procedure and is generally safe, but there is a small risk of serious complications.