Blocked Artery Treatment

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is characterized by plaque and cholesterol that builds up on the walls of the arteries (typically in your legs), causing a blockage, thus restricted flow of blood.

Blocked artery treatment, also called ‘angioplasty,’ is the best treatment for PAD because of the following:

  • It's minimally invasive so there’s less chance of infection compared to traditional surgery.

  • You avoid a long hospital visit and the costs associated with a surgery.

  • We perform it in-office at our Pembroke Pines location.

What is an angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that involves threading a small tube called a catheter through an artery in the groin or wrist and advancing it to the affected part of the artery.

Once there, a tiny balloon on the end of the catheter is inflated, which pushes back any plaque deposits in the artery and widens the vessel to restore blood flow to the heart.

Sometimes, a stent - a small mesh tube - is inserted during the angioplasty to hold the artery open and prevent it from narrowing again. This procedure is popular and effective.

What happens before an angioplasty procedure?

Prior to the procedure, you'll be given a mild sedative to relax along with local anesthesia at the site where the small catheter will be inserted.

What happens during the angioplasty procedure?

A very thin tube called a catheter is inserted into your leg and a guidewire is inserted into the catheter so that it can access the blocked area in your blood vessel.

The catheter is inserted.

Then a harmless contrast dye is injected into the catheter so that the imaging device the doctor uses can accurately locate the area that's blocked.

Contrast dye is injected.

Once the area is found, the balloon is inflated, which pushes the plaque to the sides of the artery, thereby widening the once narrowed artery. Now blood can flow.

Balloon is inserted and inflates.

In certain cases, a stent is placed to ensure the walls of the artery do not narrow again with plaque.

Stent placed, if necessary.

Catheter removal and balloon deflation.

Finally, the catheter is removed, pressure is applied to the site with gauze to prevent some bleeding, and the procedure is complete.