What is angioplasty and stenting?
Peripheral angioplasty and stenting is a cardiac catheterization treatment procedure used to examine and treat blockages in the coronary arteries. How is the test performed?
Your doctor will make a tiny incision in the artery. This incision is usually made in the groin though an arm approach may be necessary in some cases. Your doctor will follow the path of the catheter through an x-ray and will perform a balloon dilation in an area of severe blockage. This is typically followed by stenting which is catheter-based placement of metal mesh expandable cylindrical scaffolding (called a “stent”) that keeps the diseased artery open to its normal size. This is performed when angioplasty alone cannot dilate the artery sufficiently or in certain locations where stents works better than angioplasty alone. How long does it take to recover?
Many patients now can be treated with this procedure that is much less invasive and risky than standard surgical procedures with similar outcomes and a shorter recovery time involving usually a one night hospitalization. | 
