Cardiology patient page. Restenosis: repeat narrowing of a coronary artery: prevention and treatment.

Angioplasty is a safe and effective way to unblock coronary arteries. During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into the groin or arm of the patient and guided forward through the aorta and into the coronary arteries of the heart. There, blocked arteries can be opened with a balloon positioned at the tip of the catheter. Initially, angioplasty was performed only with balloon catheters, but technical advances have been made and improved patient outcome has been achieved with the placement of small metallic spring-like devices called “stents” (Figure 1) at the site of the blockage. The implanted stent serves as a scaffold that keeps the artery open. Angioplasty and stenting techniques are widely used around the world and provide an alternative option to medical therapy and bypass surgery for improving blood flow to the heart muscle. There are, however, limitations associated with angioplasty and stenting, one of which is called “restenosis.”