Angioplasty
When the arteries that carry blood to your heart are blocked, your doctor may recommend a procedure called angioplasty to clear them out. The following screens explain what happens during angioplasty and three types of procedures available -- balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, and stent placement.
Narrowed Artery
Blood contains fatty substances that can stick to the inner walls of your arteries. When the fatty matter starts to build up, the inner diameter of the artery narrows and blood cannot flow as well as it should. This deprives the heart muscle of vital oxygen.
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD on October 29, 2008
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