Balloon angioplasty is a procedure
used to open narrowed or blocked arteries.
It uses a balloon attached to a catheter
that's inserted into an artery.
At the place where deposits of plaque have closed off
or narrowed the channel for blood flow,
the balloon is inflated.
If the blockage is not major,
it may be possible to correct
the problem by inflating the balloon several times.
This will compact the plaque against the wall,
widening the passage and letting blood flow through.
It's common then,
for a tubular device called a stent to be put into the artery.
It will act like a scaffold inside
the artery and keep the blood vessel open.