Angioplasty / Balloon Angioplasty :
Angioplasty is a intervention which will widen the narrowed or blocked arteries; typically, it is due to the disease called atherosclerosis, which causes accumulation by way of fatty deposits along the inner walls of arteries. This allows blood within the arteries to flow once again to the heart and body.It is done by an interventional cardiologist where a very thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and often entered from the groin or the wrist; attached to the end of it is a small balloon. When this balloon-catheter reaches the blocked artery, the doctor inflates the balloon that pushes the fatty deposits to the walls of the artery opening it up. With increased width, the blood can circulate better. Angioplasty should be made on patients who will come to the hospital with symptoms of the disease: chest pain, angina, or myocardial infarction. It can be done on other occluded arteries besides that one supplying the heart.Most of the patients need to stay in the hospital for a few days after the procedure to monitor the improvements. Physicians often prescribe some medication for the management of other heart conditions and anticoagulants to prevent clot.It has some benefits the patient feels relieved in short terms and this type of an invasive surgery like bypass surgery is reduced with improvement in the quality of life. However, as it is not different from any other treatment in the field of medicine, it too carries some risks such as bleeding or infection or re-narrowing of the artery. Thus, the doctor has to explain this to the patient. It is also one of the most effective treatments for obstructed arteries.