What does angioplasty mean?
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to widen narrowed or blocked blood vessels, most commonly the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. During the procedure, a physician threads a thin catheter through a blood vessel to the site of the blockage, then inflates a small balloon at its tip to compress the obstruction against the artery walls. In many cases, a small mesh tube called a stent is left in place to keep the vessel open. The term derives from the Greek words 'angeion', meaning vessel, and 'plastos', meaning moulded or formed. Angioplasty has become one of the most frequently performed cardiovascular interventions worldwide, offering a less invasive alternative to open-heart bypass surgery with shorter recovery times. It is a formal clinical term encountered in medical literature, hospital settings, and health reporting, and it carries connotations of modern interventional cardiology and urgent cardiac care.
nounA surgical procedure in which a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, typically a coronary artery, is widened using a balloon catheter, often with the insertion of a stent to keep the vessel open.
- A medical procedure to widen narrowed or blocked blood vessels, typically using a balloon catheter and often a stent.
"After the heart attack, surgeons performed an angioplasty to reopen the blocked artery."
"Surgeons performed an emergency angioplasty to restore blood flow to the patient's heart."
"Recovery from angioplasty is typically much faster than recovery from open-heart bypass surgery."
The plural is uncommon in everyday use; the singular predominates even when discussing multiple procedures across patients.
"The hospital recorded over four hundred angioplasties last year."
The word 'angioplasty' fuses two ancient Greek ideas — 'vessel' and 'moulding' — into one of modern medicine's most common lifesaving procedures.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of angioplasty
Angioplasty combines two Greek-derived elements: 'angeion' (ἀγγεῖον), meaning vessel or container, which also gives us 'angiology' and 'angiogram', and 'plastos' (πλαστός), meaning moulded or formed, the same root behind 'plastic surgery'. The procedure itself was pioneered in the late 20th century, following Andreas Gruentzig's first successful balloon angioplasty in 1977, though the word reflects much older classical roots. Related terms sharing the 'angeion' root include 'angiography' and 'angiosarcoma'.
Related word forms
How angioplasty is actually used
Angioplasty is a formal medical term used primarily in clinical and healthcare contexts. It is most commonly associated with coronary arteries but can apply to other vessels, such as peripheral arteries. The plural form is rare in general usage.
Easily confused with angioplasty
Angiography is an imaging technique used to visualize blood vessels, whereas angioplasty is a treatment procedure that physically widens them.
Angioscopy involves visually inspecting the interior of blood vessels with a scope, while angioplasty is a procedure to widen narrowed vessels.