Angioplasty / Carotid Stent

In many cases, interventional radiologists can open blocked or narrowed blood vessels caused by peripheral arterial disease.  MIIGS physicians can treat blocked blood vessels without surgery.  Through a small nick in the skin a tiny balloon attached to a thin catheter is threaded under X-ray guidance to the site of the blocked artery where the balloon is inflated to open the artery.  In some cases, the artery is held open with a stent, a tiny metal cylinder.  In most cases, hospitalization and general anesthesia are not required.  There is no surgical incision, no stitches are needed and often, patients return to normal activity shortly after the procedure.