ACS Q&A – Dr. Fileccia: What is Coronary Angioplasty?

Coronary angioplasty is a procedure used to open blocked arteries around the heart.

The heart pumps blood to the rest of the body, but it also needs its own blood supply. Your heart receives this blood through a group of blood vessels called the coronary arteries. When these arteries become blocked, it can reduce blood flow to the heart and cause serious problems.

During a coronary angioplasty, we access the body through a small artery in either the leg or the wrist. A catheter (a long, thin tube) is guided to the opening of the coronary artery.

Through the catheter, we pass a very small wire (about the size of a piano wire) through the blocked area of the artery. A second catheter with a balloon on the end is then advanced over the wire until the balloon is positioned within the blockage.

The balloon is inflated to compress the blockage against the artery wall and expand the artery. The balloon is then deflated and removed, leaving the artery open. This procedure is called coronary angioplasty.