Angioplasty is a plastic surgery on the blood vessels. Angioplasty is one of the surgical techniques.
The heart is a contracting muscle that continuously pumps blood to the rest of the body. The heart itself is supplied through the coronary arteries oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly.
Over time, a fatty deposit can form in the arteries, blocking passageways and thereby impeding blood flow. That deposition is plaque called. Plaque formation in the coronary arteries can jeopardize the blood supply to the heart.
Balloon angioplasty, more commonly known as angioplasty, is a procedure to clear narrowing or blockages caused by plaque in arteries. This procedure involves making a small incision in the femur to gain access to the femoral artery. A strong wire (‘guide wire’) is then placed in the artery inserted and gently pushed through the artery to the blocked site.
A fine tube (‘catheter’) with an empty balloon attached to it is then passed along the guide wire to the blocked site. When the balloon is inflated, it presses the plaque layer against the artery wall, increasing the passage opening in the artery. This allows blood to flow normally through the artery again.
Often, during angioplasty treatment, a reinforcement tube (“stent”) in the artery blockage site to prevent the artery from closing again. A stent is a tube of fine metal wire mesh that is wrapped around an empty catheter balloon. When the catheter balloon is advanced to the blockage site and inflated, the stent expands to adhere to the artery wall. The catheter and guidewire are then removed while the stent remains in place.
It may be necessary to repeat angioplasty treatment (with or without a stent) later when plaque builds up again.
