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Angioplasty / Stenting
Where a narrowing is identified in a coronary artery the cardiologist may decide the best form of treatment is percutaneous coronary intervention either by balloon angioplasty, stenting or a combination of these. Treatment of narrowing of coronary arteries performed through small tubes (catheters) passed from the groin to the heart is called “percutaneous coronary intervention” or PCI. Balloon dilatation or stent placement are two forms of PCI. Balloon angioplasty involves the insertion of a balloon tipped catheter into the narrowed portion of the vessel. The balloon is then inflated to press the plaque against the vessel wall. This widens or unblocks the artery to restore blood flow to the more distal part of the vessel. A stent is a small mesh tube usually made of stainless steel that is placed in a narrowed coronary artery to hold the artery open.
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