Angioplasty

Special tubing with an attached deflated balloon is threaded up to the coronary arteries. The balloon is inflated to widen blocked areas where blood flow to the heart muscle has been reduced or cut off. That treatment is often combined with stent implantation to prop the artery open and decrease the chances of another blockage. Lasts from 30 minutes to several hours.

√ Greatly increases blood flow through the blocked artery

√ Decreases chest pain (angina)

√ Increases ability for physical activity

√ Reduces risk of a heart attack

√ Can be used to open neck and brain arteries to help prevent stroke