If you have coronary artery disease, the arteries in your heart are narrowed or blocked by a sticky material called plaque. Angioplasty is a procedure to restore blood flow through the artery.
Angioplasty is performed in a hospital. The doctor inserts a thin tube through a blood vessel in the arm or groin to the affected area of ​​the artery. The tube has a small balloon at one end. When the tube is in place, the doctor inflates the balloon to push the plaque outward against the wall of the artery. This widens the artery and restores blood flow.
Doctors can use angioplasty to:
• Reduce pain in the chest caused by decreased blood flow to the heart
• Minimize the risk of heart muscle to suffer a heart attack
Most people who undergo this procedure can return home the next day and can return to work the week after they have released.