Angioplasty is a medical procedure used to widen narrowed or blocked blood vessels, typically arteries, to restore normal blood flow. This is achieved by inserting a balloon-tipped catheter into the affected vessel and inflating the balloon at the site of the blockage to compress plaque or fatty deposits against the vessel walls, thereby expanding the artery. In many cases, a stent, a small mesh tube, is placed to keep the artery open and prevent re-narrowing. Angioplasty is commonly used to treat conditions such as coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, and peripheral artery disease.
