Angioplasty is a minor surgery that is done to treat narrowed or clogged blood vessels and restore normal blood flow to the heart and throughout the body. If you are at risk for heart disease or stroke, your doctor may recommend an angioplasty as an alternative to bypass surgery. There are a few different methods of angioplasty. Depending on your situation, your doctor will be able to decide which method is best for you.
Balloon Angioplasty
Balloon angioplasty is a common method of treatment that passes a thin, long tube, known as a catheter, into an obstructed artery through a small cut in the thigh or arm. The catheter is guided through the blood vessels into the artery with the help of a X-ray that shows the movement of the catheter.
Once inside the narrowed artery, a balloon, which is attached to the tip of the catheter, is inflated. The expanded balloon presses against the plaque, flattening it and widening the artery. Blood flow is then restored to normal once the artery is clear. It is normal for discomfort in the chest to occur when the balloon is inserted.
Stents are small metal devices that are placed by a catheter after the angioplasty procedure is complete. A stent remains in the treated artery in order to prevent it from narrowing again. In most cases, stents have proven to be beneficial for those who receive them, but in rare cases when someone has a weak heart, blood clots can develop due to the stent. Stenting is most commonly used in balloon angioplasty.
Laser Angioplasty
Similar to balloon angioplasty, laser angioplasty also uses a catheter, but with a laser instead of a balloon at the tip. The laser is maneuvered to the plaque build-up, and, once in position, vaporizes the blockage. It is not unusual for laser angioplasty to be used in tandem with balloon angioplasty. The balloon is used first to destroy the hard plaque and then the laser is used to destroy the remaining plaque. However, this method is not used as often as the other methods of angioplasty.
Atherectomy
Atherectomy is useful if the plaque is too hard to be treated with balloon angioplasty. In atherectomy, the plaque is cut or drilled away. There are three sub-types of atherectomy:
- Extraction atherectomy: A tiny rotating blade, similar to a cutter on a food processor, is used to cut away at plaque deposits inside the artery wall.
- Rotational atherectomy: A high-speed, diamond-tipped drill is used to destroy the fatty deposits with rotational atherectomy. This type of device is useful if plaque is especially hard.
- Directional atherectomy: A device that is a combination of a balloon and a shaving blade is used to shave the plaque away.
