- Minimally invasive, endovascular procedures such as angioplasty can reduce risk and offer shorter recovery times, compared to open surgery.
- Angioplasty is sometimes done alone, without stenting.
- Your doctor will choose a therapy based on your ability to exercise, your risk of open surgery, and the type, number and degree of blockage(s).
Angioplasty (Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty)
- Angioplasty may be performed for coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease. When it is performed for peripheral arty disease, the procedure is called percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).
- At the start of the procedure, a thin tube called a catheter enters the femoral artery through a small puncture in the thigh.
- Your physician uses X-rays to guide the catheter to the blockage, then inflates a balloon at the tip of the catheter.
- The balloon presses the clogging material flat against the artery wall, expanding the artery and allowing more space for the blood to flow.
- Your physician may use a plain balloon or one coated with medication (drug-eluting balloon), which helps prevent scarring while the artery heals.
Stenting
- A stent is a tube of metal mesh that holds your artery open and may improve the results of angioplasty alone.
- In a minimally invasive, endovascular procedure, a catheter delivers the stent to the blockage site.
- Stents can be bare metal, covered with fabric and/or coated with medication (drug-eluting stent), which helps prevent scarring while the artery heals.
- Stents may also be placed as part of open surgery.
