Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure to open narrowed or blocked vessels that supply blood to the heart. During the procedure, a tiny balloon catheter is inserted in a blocked blood vessel to help widen it and improve blood flow to the heart. A short wire mesh tube, called a stent, may also be inserted into the vessel during the procedure.

People who have coronary artery disease or a heart attack may need to have coronary angioplasty.