Angiograms and Stenting

The heart needs a constant supply of blood and this is supplied by the coronary arteries. If the blood flow is restricted you may start to feel the symptoms of coronary heart disease. Unabated the restriction may progress to cause a heart attack or even a cardiac arrest.

A coronary angioplasty is a procedure used to widen blocked or narrowed coronary arteries.

The term “angioplasty” means using a balloon to stretch open a narrowed or blocked artery. However, most modern angioplasty procedures also involve inserting a short wire-mesh tube, called a stent, into the artery during the procedure. The stent is left in place permanently to allow blood to flow more freely.

Coronary angioplasty is sometimes known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The combination of coronary angioplasty with stenting is usually referred to as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

If you require more information on this procedure please see the following videos or the NHS website page.