Coronary angioplasty

Narrowed or blocked coronary artery

Normal coronary artery and artery narrowed by plaque

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slide 1 of 7, Narrowed or blocked coronary artery,

Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. Coronary artery disease can cause plaque to build up inside the walls of the coronary arteries. Plaque is made up of extra cholesterol, calcium, and other substances that float in blood.

This plaque buildup may narrow the artery and reduce the blood flow to the heart muscle. This narrowing can cause angina symptoms such as chest pain or pressure. Sometimes the plaque can tear or rupture. The body tries to repair the tear by forming a blood clot over it. The blood clot can completely block blood flow and cause a heart attack. A procedure called angioplasty can widen a narrowed or blocked coronary artery.

Step 1: During an angioplasty, a catheter is moved into the coronary artery

Catheter going from groin to heart, with detail of catheter in a coronary artery

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slide 2 of 7, Step 1: During an angioplasty, a catheter is moved into the coronary artery,

An angioplasty is done using a thin, soft tube called a catheter. The catheter is guided into the blood vessels of the heart. First, your doctor inserts the catheter into a blood vessel in the groin, arm, or wrist. A very thin guide wire is inside the catheter. Your doctor carefully guides the catheter through blood vessels to the narrowed or blocked portion of the coronary artery. Your doctor watches the movement of the catheter in the blood vessels on an X-ray screen.

Step 2: A guide wire and balloon are placed in the coronary artery

Guide wire and tip of balloon in narrowed artery

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slide 3 of 7, Step 2: A guide wire and balloon are placed in the coronary artery,

After the catheter reaches the artery, your doctor will move the guide wire farther into the narrowed or blocked portion. A small balloon is slid along the guide wire. In most cases, a small, expandable stent is placed in the artery with the balloon.

Step 3: The balloon is inflated

Balloon and stent positioned and expanded

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slide 4 of 7, Step 3: The balloon is inflated,

The small balloon is inflated. The balloon may stay inflated for a short time. The pressure from the inflated balloon presses the plaque against the wall of the artery, creating more room for blood to flow. The inflated balloon also expands the stent.

Step 4: The balloon, guide wire, and catheter are removed

Deflated balloon leaving an expanded stent in place

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slide 5 of 7, Step 4: The balloon, guide wire, and catheter are removed,

Next, the balloon is deflated. But the stent stays expanded. The stent presses against the walls of the artery and keeps the artery open. Your doctor removes the balloon, guide wire, and catheter. The stent remains in the blood vessel, allowing the blood to flow normally again.

Improved blood flow

Decreased blood flow caused by narrowed artery before angioplasty compared to normal blood flow after angioplasty

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slide 6 of 7, Improved blood flow,

After an angioplasty, the narrowed or blocked artery is opened up and oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood flows more normally into the heart muscle.

Arteries before and after an angioplasty

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slide 7 of 7, Arteries before and after an angioplasty,

These X-rays show a blocked coronary artery before and after an angioplasty procedure. Before angioplasty, the blood flow is blocked by a narrowed artery. After the angioplasty, blood is flowing better through the newly opened artery. These X-rays are from an angiogram. An angiogram is a test that uses a special dye and camera to take X-ray pictures of the blood flow in an artery.

Current as of: April 29, 2021

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Rakesh K. Pai MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine
Robert A. Kloner MD, PhD - Cardiology
Heather Quinn MD - Family Medicine