An angioplasty may be performed as an outpatient procedure or part of a broader scope of testing after a patient has been admitted to the hospital. In the treatment room, the patient receives sedative medication through an IV inserted into a vein in the arm. The sedative helps the patient relax but usually does not cause them to fall asleep.
The procedure involves threading a catheter, a thin tube, through a small incision in the arm or leg. The catheter is moved to the area of blockage through an artery in the selected limb. Imaging guidance helps the provider identify the area of narrowing or blockage. Here, the provider positions the catheter in a way that the small balloon at its tip can compress the plaque that has formed in the narrowed artery.
The balloon may be inflated and deflated a few times to adequately open up the artery for efficient blood flow. Once the artery is open, the balloon is deflated and removed. Sometimes, a stent is positioned over the deflated balloon so that, when the balloon is inflated inside the artery, it leaves the stent behind to maintain the shape of the artery for a longer period of time. The procedure can take 30 to 60 minutes.