Angioplasty
3-minute read
Angioplasty is a procedure used to increase the flow of blood through a narrowed artery. It involves keyhole surgery to place a small balloon at the narrowing in the vessel. When the balloon is inflated, the blood vessel should open and allow a healthy flow of blood.
The procedure is done while doctors use an angiogram, a special kind of x-ray image that shows the arteries live on a screen.
Why is angioplasty performed?
Angioplasty is performed when a narrowed artery puts the health of tissues at risk due to the lack of oxygen.
It is most commonly used on the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle, to relieve the symptoms of angina or restore blood flow after a heart attack.
It can also be used to treat narrowing of the renal artery to the kidney, the carotid arteries in the neck and arteries to the legs.
How to prepare for angioplasty
Your preparation will depend on your medical condition at the time of the procedure, and any medicines you are taking.
Your doctor might ask you to stop taking certain medicines that can thin the blood and cause bleeding. You will probably have to fast for several hours.
What happens during angioplasty
You will usually be given a sedative to help you relax, then you’ll have an injection of local anaesthetic in the skin near an artery, usually in the groin. A special dye is then injected into the artery so it shows up on the x-ray.
A thin wire is inserted into the artery and used to guide a small tube with the balloon on the end. When it reaches the narrowing, the balloon is inflated to stretch the artery, then the wire and balloon are removed.
For angioplasty of an artery supplying the heart, a small wire mesh tube (called a stent) is usually placed in the artery to help keep it open after the procedure.
Angioplasty usually takes 30-60 minutes.
What to expect after angioplasty
You will need to lie flat for 1 to 4 hours and probably stay in hospital overnight, or for longer if angioplasty was done as an emergency procedure.
You might have pain or bruising where the wire was inserted or discomfort at the site of a stent, but most people can do moderate intensity activities when they return home.
What can go wrong with angioplasty?
Angioplasty is generally regarded as safe.
Some people have allergic reactions to the dye used in the x-ray procedure or other medications.
On rare occasions blood vessels or nerves are accidentally damaged during the procedure, which can cause long-term problems.
If you have severe pain or bleeding after angioplasty, you should see a doctor without delay.
More information
About angioplasty
You can get more information about angioplasty from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.
About surgical procedures
Visit the healthdirect surgical procedures page to learn more about surgical procedures in general, with information including:
Last reviewed: December 2018
