What type of procedure is angioplasty?

Angioplasty is classified as a minimally invasive endovascular procedure. This means that, compared to traditional surgical interventions, it involves less trauma to the body and is performed through small incisions. During angioplasty, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the site of a blockage or narrowing in the arteries. A balloon attached to the catheter is then inflated to widen the affected area, which can restore blood flow without the need for large surgical openings or extensive recovery times associated with more invasive procedures.

The approach taken in angioplasty distinguishes it from invasive surgical procedures that typically require larger incisions and may involve significant physical manipulation of the organs involved. It is also not classified as open-heart surgery, as angioplasty is performed on blood vessels rather than the heart itself. Additionally, while angioplasty can be used in conjunction with diagnostic imaging techniques, it is fundamentally a therapeutic intervention rather than merely a diagnostic procedure. Therefore, the characterization of angioplasty as a minimally invasive endovascular procedure accurately reflects the nature and purpose of the technique.