How are angioplasty and vascular stenting performed?

How are angioplasty and vascular stenting performed?

Kenneth W. Chin (M.D., F.A.C.R.) gives expert video advice on: How do angioplasty and vascular stenting differ?; How are angioplasty and vascular stenting performed?; What can I expect after angioplasty and vascular stenting? and more...

They involve for balloon angioplasty placement of a special kind of a thin plastic tubing, a catheter, onto which is mounted a special kind of a balloon. These balloons are graded to open up only to a given diameter. That results in safety so that the balloon doesn't over expand a blood vessel causing it to potentially rupture if it were over expanded. By opening up the blood vessel, we can then stretch it and then actually partially tear it in a controlled fashion so that it stays open. In some instances and in certain parts of the body what's used routinely is the associated use of what are called stents. And these are cylindrical metal pieces that provide scaffolding to hold a blood vessel open once once it has expanded to an open diameter.