Angioplasty is a procedure that widens narrowed or blocked arteries caused by coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is caused by deposits of cholesterol and other substances called plaque in the walls of the arteries. The blockage due to deposits narrows the blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the heart.
Angioplasty restores blood flow to the heart without the need for open heart surgery. It can also be performed in other body parts with narrow or blocked arteries, such as the neck, limbs, kidneys, and pelvis.
During the procedure, a long, thin tube called a catheter is guided into the blocked artery. The catheter has a tiny balloon at its tip, which once in place, inflates at the narrowed area of the artery. It presses the plaque or blood clot against the sides of the artery, making room for blood flow.