Angioplasty and Stenting

Interventionalists pioneered angioplasty and stenting, which was first performed to treat peripheral arterial disease. Using imaging for guidance, a catheter is thread through blocked artery in the legs. Once there, a balloon is inflated to open the blood vessel where it is narrowed or blocked. In some cases this is then held open with a stent, a tiny metal scaffolding. This is a minimally invasive treatment that does not require surgery, just a small nick in the skin.