Balloon angioplasty and stent placement are minimally invasive procedures used to open narrowed or blocked arteries, most commonly the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. These procedures improve blood flow, relieve symptoms such as chest pain, and reduce the risk of heart-related complications.
They are performed using catheter-based techniques and do not require open-heart surgery.
- Why Balloon Angioplasty and Stents Are Performed
- What Is Balloon Angioplasty?
- What Is a Stent?
- How the Procedure Is Performed
- What Will I Feel During and After the Procedure?
- Recovery After Angioplasty and Stent Placement
- Medications After Stent Placement
- Risks and Considerations
- How Successful Are Angioplasty and Stents?
- In Summary
Why Balloon Angioplasty and Stents Are Performed
Over time, fatty deposits called plaques can build up inside arteries, a process known as atherosclerosis. When these plaques significantly narrow an artery, blood flow becomes restricted.
Balloon angioplasty and stenting are performed to:
- Relieve chest pain (angina) caused by reduced blood flow
- Improve blood flow to heart muscle
- Treat certain types of heart attacks
- Improve exercise tolerance and quality of life
The procedure treats the narrowed segment of the artery but does not cure atherosclerosis, which is a long-term condition.
What Is Balloon Angioplasty?
Balloon angioplasty involves inserting a thin catheter with a small deflated balloon at its tip into the affected artery. Once positioned at the narrowed area, the balloon is carefully inflated.
Inflating the balloon pushes the plaque outward against the artery wall, widening the vessel and improving blood flow. The balloon is then deflated and removed.
In most cases, balloon angioplasty is followed by stent placement to keep the artery open.
What Is a Stent?
A stent is a small, expandable metal mesh tube that is placed inside the artery at the site of narrowing. The stent acts as a scaffold, helping keep the artery open after angioplasty.
Most modern stents are drug-eluting stents, which slowly release medication to reduce the risk of the artery narrowing again over time.
Once placed, the stent remains permanently in the artery.
How the Procedure Is Performed
Balloon angioplasty and stenting are performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory. A catheter is inserted through a blood vessel—most commonly in the wrist or groin—and guided to the heart.
Contrast dye is injected to visualize the arteries. The balloon and stent are then positioned and deployed at the narrowed segment. Blood flow is immediately improved once the artery is opened.
The procedure usually takes one to two hours, depending on complexity.
What Will I Feel During and After the Procedure?
During the procedure, you are usually awake but sedated and comfortable. Pain is uncommon, although brief chest pressure may be felt when the balloon is inflated.
Afterward, you may feel tired, and mild soreness or bruising can occur at the catheter insertion site. Most patients notice relief of chest pain soon after the procedure.
Recovery After Angioplasty and Stent Placement
Recovery is typically quick. Many patients are discharged within one or two days, sometimes even the same day.
You will receive instructions on activity, wound care, and medications. Strenuous activity is usually limited for a short period.
Medications After Stent Placement
After stent placement, blood-thinning medications are essential to prevent clot formation within the stent. This usually includes a combination of aspirin and another antiplatelet drug for a defined period.
Taking these medications exactly as prescribed is critical for stent safety and long-term success.
Risks and Considerations
Balloon angioplasty and stenting are widely performed and generally safe procedures. As with any invasive treatment, risks exist and include bleeding, blood vessel injury, allergic reaction to contrast dye, or re-narrowing of the artery.
Serious complications are uncommon, especially when the procedure is performed in experienced centers.
How Successful Are Angioplasty and Stents?
Angioplasty and stenting are highly effective at opening narrowed arteries and relieving symptoms. Most patients experience significant improvement in chest pain and exercise capacity.
Long-term success depends on continued medical therapy, lifestyle changes, and control of risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.
In Summary
Balloon angioplasty and stent placement are minimally invasive procedures used to restore blood flow in narrowed or blocked arteries. By opening the artery and supporting it with a stent, these treatments relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of heart-related complications. When combined with appropriate medications and lifestyle changes, they play a central role in modern coronary artery disease treatment.
Reference: Angioplasty
