Angioplasty

Overview Conditions Angioplasty is a common, very successful treatment to open blocked arteries. In some cases, the physician inserts and fastens a flexible metal sheath, called a stent, in the artery to keep it open. Carotid angioplasty is a specific procedure for clearing carotid stenosis, a narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck. During angioplasty, your physician passes a catheter with an inflatable balloon at the tip into a blocked artery. The balloon inflates, compresses the blockage, and opens the narrowed section of the artery to improve blood flow. The balloon is then deflated, and the catheter is removed. The expert neuroradiologists in the Inova Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease Program perform innovative minimally invasive treatments for stroke and vascular disease. Call 703-776-4700 for more information. Angioplasty is one of the treatments used to clear blocked or narrowed arteries. Read more about carotid stenosis.