Background and Identification
By definition, angioplasty is the surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel, particularly the coronary arteries. Coronary angioplasty is also known as percutaneous coronary intervention and is a procedure used to open clogged heart arteries. This procedure uses a small balloon catheter that is inserted into the blocked blood vessel to help widen it and improve blood flow to the heart.
Stents are typically used in combination with the angioplasty procedure, and stents help prop the arteries open while the procedure is taking place. Angioplasty is a common procedure for those who experience chest pain or shortness of breath. In addition, angioplasty devices are often used to relieve and reduce the damage in the heart during a heart attack.
Source: Mayo Clinic
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