Angioplasty & Stenting

Interventional radiologists were the first physicians to use angioplasty and stenting to treat peripheral arterial disease. The introduction of this technique, used to open closed arteries, opened the field of minimally invasive medicine.

During an angioplasty procedure, a small catheter with a tiny balloon on the end is inserted into a blood vessel. The catheter is threaded carefully along the vessel using X-ray guidance, until it reaches the blockage in the artery. Then the balloon is inflated, opening the artery so blood can flow freely through the vessel.

Often, a mesh tube, called a stent is deployed and inserted into the artery to insure that it remains clear. The Society of Interventional Radiology reports, "In the past seven to 10 years, a very large clinical experience in centers around the world has shown that stenting and angioplasty are preferred as a first-line treatment for more and more processes throughout the body."

Some of the conditions SIR lists as being treated with angioplasty and stenting include:

Artery blockages caused by blood clots.
Vascular disease
Atherosclerosis or commonly known as "Hardening of the Arteries"

Learn more about Angioplasty and Stenting from SIR.