# 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 (balloon angioplasty, or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, most often caused by atherosclerosis. A deflated balloon on a catheter is passed over a guide-wire into the narrowed vessel and inflated, forcing the vessel and its surrounding muscular wall to expand and improving blood flow. A stent, a small mesh scaffold, may be placed during the same procedure to help keep the vessel open after the balloon is deflated and withdrawn. Access to the vascular system is usually gained percutaneously through the femoral or radial artery, or the femoral vein, using the Seldinger technique, with wires and catheters guided to the treatment site in real time under X-ray fluoroscopy and radiopaque contrast dye. Coronary angioplasty treats narrowed coronary arteries in coronary heart disease and is used for conditions such as unstable angina, NSTEMI and STEMI; peripheral angioplasty opens vessels outside the heart, commonly in the legs, abdomen or renal arteries. Compared with surgical bypass, angioplasty is generally a lower-risk option, though it may provide a less durable result and be more prone to restenosis (re-narrowing). Transradial access is often preferred for acute coronary syndrome because it carries a lower incidence of bleeding and vascular complications than the transfemoral approach. A stent may or may not be placed, depending on the vessel and the operator's assessment. ## 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. ### How does angioplasty work? A deflated balloon on a catheter is guided over a wire into the narrowed vessel and then inflated. This forces the vessel and its muscular wall to expand, restoring improved blood flow, after which the balloon is deflated and removed. ### What is a stent, and is one always used? A stent is a small scaffold left inside the vessel to help keep it open after ballooning. A stent may or may not be placed during angioplasty, depending on the vessel involved and the operator's judgement. ### What conditions is angioplasty used to treat? Coronary angioplasty treats narrowed coronary arteries in coronary heart disease, including unstable angina and heart attacks (NSTEMI and STEMI). Peripheral angioplasty opens narrowed vessels outside the heart, such as those in the legs, abdomen or kidneys, usually caused by atherosclerosis. ## 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)