Coronary Angioplasty and Stent Placement Animation

The animation below shows coronary angioplasty and stent placement. Click the "start" button to play the animation. Written and spoken explanations are provided with each frame. Use the buttons in the lower right corner to pause, restart, or replay the animation, or use the scroll bar below the buttons to move through the frames.

The animation shows how a doctor inserts a tube called a balloon catheter into a coronary artery narrowed by plaque. The balloon catheter compresses the plaque, widens the artery, and restores blood flow. Through the catheter, a stent is placed in the artery to help maintain the restored blood flow.

Source:
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute