# Angioplasty and Stents

> Citation bundle for Angioplasty and Stents on The Treatment Registry.
> URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/angioplasty-stents
> Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/angioplasty-stents

- Category: cardiology

## Description

Angioplasty, also known as balloon angioplasty and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, typically to treat arterial atherosclerosis.

## Overview

Angioplasty, also known as balloon angioplasty and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, typically to treat arterial atherosclerosis.

*Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. Verify with a qualified clinician before treatment.*

## Peer-reviewed outcome rates

- **Complication rate:** 1.53% (range 1.00–2.07%) — from 2 cited sources

## Common risks

- Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
- Heart Treatments
- What Are Stents?
- Coronary Artery Disease: Angioplasty or Bypass Surgery?
- Drug-Eluting Stents: Do They Increase Heart Attack Risk?
- Heart Procedures and Surgeries

## FAQs

### What is angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a procedure to improve blood flow in coronary arteries that have become narrow or blocked. Your coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. If you have [coronary artery disease](https://medlineplus.gov/coronaryarterydisease.html), a sticky material called plaque builds up in your coronary arteries. Plaque is made of [cholesterol](https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterol.html), calcium, and other substances in your blood. Over time, it can narrow your arteries or fully block them. When this happens, some parts of your heart don't get enough blood.

### What conditions does angioplasty treat?

Doctors (usually a heart specialist called a cardiologist) use angioplasty to:

### What happens during angioplasty?

Most people have angioplasties in a hospital in a special room called a cardiac catheterization, or cath, lab. You will be awake and lying down. You'll get medicine to help you relax through an intravenous (IV) line. This is a small tube that goes into a vein in your hand or arm.

### What happens after an angioplasty?

If you had an angioplasty for chest pain, you'll go to a recovery room for a few hours. You may stay in the hospital overnight. Your doctor will probably prescribe [medicines to prevent blood clots](https://medlineplus.gov/bloodthinners.html). Most people can return to their usual activities after a week.

### Are there any risks from angioplasty?

Angioplasty is very safe, but every invasive procedure comes with risks. You may get a [bruise](https://medlineplus.gov/bruises.html), feel sore, or have some bleeding where the tubes were inserted. More serious problems don't happen very often, but they are possible. They can include serious [bleeding](https://medlineplus.gov/bleeding.html), blood clots, and narrowing of the artery again.

## Alternative treatments

- **CABG** — Better long-term survival in multi-vessel disease, diabetic patients, and left-main disease.
- **Optimal medical therapy** — Appropriate first-line in stable angina with controlled symptoms.

## Cited authors

- Francesco Moroni — Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan, Italy.
- Anna Subramaniam — Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

## Sources

- [Chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: managing perforation complications.](https://doi.org/10.1080/14779072.2021.1850264) — Expert review of cardiovascular therapy (accessed 2026-06-28)
- [Management of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Complications.](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccl.2025.09.013) — Interventional cardiology clinics (accessed 2026-06-28)
- [ESC — Guidelines on Myocardial Revascularization (CABG / PCI)](https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines) — European Society of Cardiology (accessed 2026-06-29)