angioplasty

noun

Meaning

A medical procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries, typically by inflating a tiny balloon inside the vessel.

Examples

  • The surgeon performed an emergency angioplasty to clear the patient's clogged coronary artery.
  • Recovery after an angioplasty is generally much faster than after traditional open-heart bypass surgery.

Synonyms: balloon procedure, vascular intervention, revascularization, percutaneous coronary intervention