Angioplasty and Stenting

Angioplasty and stents are procedural methods provided by Trinity Health Michigan in our wide array of vascular services.

What is angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that clears narrowed or blocked arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the body. If left untreated, excessive fat and cholesterol buildup — known as plaque — will lead to serious health problems. Many factors contribute to the buildup of plaque, including your diet and exercise habits.

In angioplasty, a long, thin tube called a catheter that has a balloon on the tip of it is inserted into the artery. The balloon is inflated at the blockage site to compress the plaque against the wall of the artery, increasing the flow of blood. In order to prevent the artery from becoming blocked again long-term, a stent is usually put in place during angioplasty.

Most patients that require angioplasty have coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease or carotid artery disease.

What is a stent?

A stent is a small, mesh tube used to prevent the inside of your coronary arteries from becoming blocked and increase the blood flow to your heart. The stent is placed inside of your artery during angioplasty and, after the procedure is finished, it holds the artery open and releases drugs that prevent it from becoming blocked long-term.