<h3>What is angioplasty?</h3> <p>Angioplasty is a procedure to improve blood flow in coronary arteries that have become narrow or blocked. Your coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. If you have <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/coronaryarterydisease.html">coronary artery disease</a>, a sticky material called plaque builds up in your coronary arteries. Plaque is made of <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterol.html">cholesterol</a>, calcium, and other substances in your blood. Over time, it can narrow your arteries or fully block them. When this happens, some parts of your heart don't get enough blood.</p> <p>Angioplasty widens the blocked part of your artery so more blood can get through. It is also called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).</p><p> </p><h3>What conditions does angioplasty treat?</h3> <p>Doctors (usually a heart specialist called a cardiologist) use angioplasty to:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Reduce <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/chestpain.html">chest pain</a> from blockages in the coronary arteries.</strong> This type of pain is called <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/angina.html">angina</a>. There are different types of angina. Angioplasty treats certain types.</li> <li><strong>Limit damage to the heart during or right after a <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/heartattack.html">heart attack</a>.</strong> In this case, angioplasty is an emergency treatment.</li> </ul> <p>Angioplasty does not cure coronary artery disease. To help <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/howtopreventheartdisease.html">prevent more plaque blockages</a>, you'll need to take any prescribed medicines, eat healthy foods, and get <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/howmuchexercisedoineed.html">regular exercise</a>.</p> <h3>What happens during angioplasty?</h3> <p>Most people have angioplasties in a hospital in a special room called a cardiac catheterization, or cath, lab. You will be awake and lying down. You'll get medicine to help you relax through an intravenous (IV) line. This is a small tube that goes into a vein in your hand or arm.</p> <p>Angioplasty is done through a blood vessel in your arm, wrist, or groin. Your doctor will:</p> <ul> <li>Make a small opening in that area to insert a thin tube (a catheter) into a blood vessel.</li> <li>Thread the tube through the vessel to your heart, using <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/xrays.html">x-rays</a> as a guide.</li> <li>Inject contrast dye inside your arteries. The dye highlights your heart and blood vessels in the x-rays.</li> <li>Replace the first tube with another one that has a small, deflated balloon on the end.</li> <li>Guide the balloon inside the blockage and inflate it to push the plaque flat against the artery wall. This makes the artery wider and improves blood flow.</li> <li>Sometimes put a small, mesh tube into the artery to help keep it open. The tube is called a stent. Some stents have a coating of medicine that helps prevent <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/bloodclots.html">blood clots</a> from forming.</li> </ul> <h3>What happens after an angioplasty?</h3> <p>If you had an angioplasty for chest pain, you'll go to a recovery room for a few hours. You may stay in the hospital overnight. Your doctor will probably prescribe <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/bloodthinners.html">medicines to prevent blood clots</a>. Most people can return to their usual activities after a week.</p> <p>If you had an emergency angioplasty for a heart attack, you'll need to stay in the hospital for about a few more days.</p> <h3>Are there any risks from angioplasty?</h3> <p>Angioplasty is very safe, but every invasive procedure comes with risks. You may get a <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/bruises.html">bruise</a>, feel sore, or have some bleeding where the tubes were inserted. More serious problems don't happen very often, but they are possible. They can include serious <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/bleeding.html">bleeding</a>, blood clots, and narrowing of the artery again.</p> <p class="">NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute</p>