Coronary Angioplasty

In this minimally invasive or percutaneous procedure, a balloon is used to open a blockage in a coronary (heart) artery that has been narrowed by atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque on the inner walls of the arteries. This procedure improves blood flow to the heart.

Angioplasty may be used to:

• Improve symptoms of coronary artery disease such as angina and shortness of breath.
• Reduce damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack.
• Reduce the risk of death in some patients

Angioplasty is performed on more than one million people each year in the United States. Research on angioplasty is ongoing to make it safer and more effective, to prevent treated arteries from closing again, and to make the procedure an option for more people.