Angioplasty is a minimally invasive surgical repair of a blood vessel which aims to

improve blood flow

. This procedure involves inserting a thin wire into one of the larger

arteries

, such as in the arm or groin, to the site requiring repair. When the wire reaches the area of the blockage, a catheter (tube) with a deflated

balloon

on the end is threaded into the blocked artery under X-ray guidance. A small amount of dye may be injected through the catheter into the bloodstream to help show the

blockage

on X-ray. When the tube reaches the blockage, the balloon is

inflated

, forcing the blockage to open by pushing the walls of the artery outwards. Commonly, a

stent

(artificial tube) may be placed at the site to keep the artery open. Once the balloon has been deflated and withdrawn, the stent remains in place permanently, holding the blood vessel open and restoring blood flow to the arteries and heart muscle. This surgery is most commonly performed if you are having a heart attack, have severe

Angina

that is not responding to alternative therapies, have severely reduced blood flow to the heart muscle caused by

narrowed arteries

(

cholesterol

, fatty plaque).