Clogged or blocked coronary (heart) arteries are caused by coronary heart disease, or atherosclerosis, a progressive condition that results in hardening and obstruction of the arteries that carry oxygenated blood to the heart. Various options are available for treating the underlying heart disease and the obstructions inside the coronary arteries. Here is a brief description of the most common treatments.
Angioplasty
Angioplasty, which involves the insertion of a small balloon into a coronary artery, is used to expand and open clogged arteries. An alternative to more invasive coronary bypass surgery, angioplasty is a common procedure performed on coronary arteries significantly narrowed or blocked by arterial plaque. Angioplasty is usually performed by inserting a small catheter through the femoral artery in the groin. The catheter is threaded through the blood stream and into the heart, where it is positioned in a blocked or narrowed artery, then the balloon tip is inflated. The inflated balloon expands the artery wall and compresses the arterial plaque, a process that expands the diameter of the artery, thereby increasing blood flow.
Stent Implantation
Depending on the extent of obstruction inside a coronary artery, a stent might be implanted inside the artery to help keep the artery open and ensure proper blood flow. Stent implantation is normally performed at the same time as an angioplasty. After a clogged artery has been opened and expanded by the inflated balloon, a wire or mesh stent is inserted into the artery and fixed in place. The stent is designed to anchor to the artery wall and provide structural support to the expanded artery, which prevents the artery wall from collapsing back into its original position. Angioplasty with stent implantation is a common treatment for various types and degrees of clogged coronary arteries.
