What Is It?
Angioplasty, with or without vascular stenting, is commonly used to treat conditions that involve a narrowing or blockage of arteries or veins throughout the body, including:
- Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries due to plaque
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD), or narrowing of the arteries
- Renal vascular hypertension—high blood pressure caused by the narrowing of kidney arteries
How Is It Treated?
Angioplasty and vascular stenting help improve blood flow in arteries and veins. In both treatments, our radiologists use imaging to guide a catheter (a long, thin plastic tube) into an artery or vein and advance it to the problem area—a narrowing or blockage that is limiting blood flow.
In angioplasty, a balloon is inflated to open the blood vessel, then is deflated or removed. Sometimes a stent, a small flexible tube, is permanently placed after angioplasty to help keep the artery or vein open.
How Do I Prep For The Procedure?
These procedures require no surgical incision or stitches and usually require no anesthesia. In most cases, these inpatient procedures require a single overnight hospital stay.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight (12:00 a.m.) the night before your exam. No breakfast or water in the morning. Bring all medications with you to the hospital.
What Happens After The Procedure?
Post-procedure care typically involves medication management, including antiplatelet drugs, and lifestyle modifications such as adopting a heart-healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise. Patients will receive instructions on how to care for the access site and will be scheduled for follow-up appointments to monitor their cardiovascular health. The goal of angioplasty is to improve blood flow to the heart muscle, alleviate symptoms, and enhance overall heart function.
