Heart Disease Health Center

Angioplasty

Angioplasty is used for severe disease that causes pain and limping during exercise, pain when at rest, or open sores. It works best in larger arteries, where it is used to increase blood flow in a narrowed artery.

During this procedure, a small, thin tube called a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in the groin and guided to the affected artery. When the catheter reaches the narrowed part of the artery, the surgeon inflates a balloon. The balloon presses the plaque against the wall of the artery. This improves blood flow.

A small, expandable tube called a stent may be placed in a blood vessel to help hold it open.

Peripheral Arterial Disease: Should I Have Surgery?

Complementary and alternative medicine

Alternative treatments, such as ginkgo biloba and carnitine, might help leg pain and may improve how well you can walk. But these are not proven treatments and may not work for everyone.