Angioplasty

This procedure is often used to remove blockages caused by plaque in arteries of people with CHD. In the procedure, a physician uses a long, narrow tube, called a catheter, with a balloon device at its tip. Through a small incision in the skin (usually in the groin area) the physician inserts the catheter into an artery, maneuvers it into the heart muscle, and positions the tip at the site of the blockage. The balloon is then inflated, compressing the plaque and reopening the blood vessel.

It is not uncommon for vessels to eventually become blocked again at the same site. Performing the procedure a second time in such circumstances is often effective. The use of a stent—a mesh device placed over the balloon that stays at the site of the blockage after the balloon is inflated and removed—can help prevent the problem from redeveloping. Over the years, results with this procedure have continually improved with advances in technique and technology.