Coronary angioplasty, also called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is a procedure used to open clogged heart arteries. Angioplasty uses a tiny balloon catheter, and with the help of imaging, it is inserted in a blocked blood vessel to help widen it and improve blood flow to your heart. Angioplasty is often combined with the placement of a small wire mesh tube called a stent. The stent helps prop the artery open, decreasing its chance of narrowing again. Most stents are coated with medication to help keep your artery open (drug-eluting stents). Rarely, bare-metal stents may be used. The stent is left inside the blood vessel to help keep it open. Angioplasty is minimally invasive and usually does not require general anesthesia
Angioplasty can improve symptoms of blocked arteries, such as chest pain and shortness of breath. Angioplasty is also often used during a heart attack to quickly open a blocked artery and reduce the amount of damage to your heart and thus reduce the risk of death.
