WHAT ARE ANGIOPLASTY & STENTING?
Angioplasty is the procedure of using a balloon catheter to dilate an artery that is abnormally narrowed, usually by fatty plaque or cholesterol. Stenting is performed after the angioplasty and involves inserting a metallic framing device in the artery to keep it open. The stent bears some rough resemblance to Chinese handcuffs. The stent is basically a tube made out of a wire screen material, which fits inside the artery to keep it open and allows blood to pass through the center of the tube. We have demonstration products and will be glad to show these to you. Angioplasty and stenting are performed as a continuation of a cerebral angiogram. Another pamphlet describes angiography, and it would be helpful if you are familiar with angiography before reading this description. The procedure of angioplasty and stenting was performed on the heart blood vessels of our Vice President, Dick Cheney, and his procedure is very similar to what is described herein, although in your case involving a
