Angioplasty vs. Stent: What's the Difference?

The short answer

Angioplasty is the procedure. A stent is the device. Angioplasty uses a small balloon on the end of a catheter to reopen a narrowed or blocked artery. A stent, a small mesh tube, is usually placed at the same time to hold that artery open afterward.

How angioplasty works

During angioplasty, a thin catheter is guided through a blood vessel, usually from the wrist or groin, to the site of the blockage. A small balloon at the tip is inflated, pressing plaque against the artery wall and restoring blood flow.

Why a stent usually follows

Without support, an artery can narrow again after the balloon is removed. A stent, left in place permanently, acts as scaffolding to keep the artery open long after the procedure is finished.

Recovery

Angioplasty with stent placement is minimally invasive, and many patients go home the same day or the next. Your cardiologist will typically prescribe medication to prevent clotting around the stent.

Questions before your procedure

If you have been told you may need angioplasty or a stent, our team can walk you through exactly what to expect, in plain language, before you decide on next steps.