Angioplasty & Stenting

Angioplasty and stenting: These procedures are becoming increasingly popular for the management of blockages in arteries to the heart, legs, kidneys, and carotid arteries to the brain. Angioplasty is generally performed from the artery in the groin or arm to gain access to the blockage requiring treatment. A balloon catheter is placed over a guidewire at the site of the blockage using x-ray guidance. Once positioned, the balloon is inflated, thereby pushing the atherosclerotic material up against the vessel wall. Often, a stent, which is a metal mesh device, is used as scaffolding for the arterial wall after angioplasty. Once deployed, the stent becomes encapsulated through the addition of new lining cells within days of the procedure. Stents have reduced the incidence of recurrent blockages after balloon angioplasty. Other techniques may be used during the procedure including atherectomy (removal of the blockage using a cutting device) or thrombectomy (removal of blood clot using a device that sucks out the blood clot). These procedures generally require an overnight stay in the hospital.

If clinically indicated, referral can be made to a vascular surgeon if the surgical treatment is deemed to be the most appropriate.