a procedure in which a balloon is placed into a blocked coronary artery and expanded to allow better blood flow is
They include: 1  Balloon angioplasty. 2  During this procedure, a specially designed catheter with a small balloon tip is guided to the point of narrowing in the artery. 3  Once in place, the balloon is inflated to compress plaque against the artery wall and stretch the artery open to increase blood flow to the heart. 4  Stent.