Intended to treat vessel or artery blockages in and around the heart, balloon dilation is a relatively new procedure that aims to widen the blockage site so that blood flow and oxygenation of the area of the part of the body in question is restored to normal.

The procedure has been used for the last 25 years as a means of avoiding the need for much more invasive hear surgery, with the introduction of increasingly robust balloons into the body which are designed to last as long as possible thereby maintaining the performance of the vessel or artery.

Procedure information
The balloon is introduced into the vein or artery through the use of a catheter that is most commonly threaded through an artery in the leg and monitored through the use of a trace radioactive element which allows real-time x-rays. An anesthetic is usually not required.

First, the balloon is inserted into the blockage site, after a wire has been used to scrape away blockage material. The balloon is then inflated to dilate the affected vessel or artery to allow improved blood flow, which is typically an increase of up to 50 percent following the procedure. A stent aimed at further supporting the function of the balloon may also be inserted in more serious cases.

Recovery time
Developed as an alternative to full-blown surgery, balloon dilation is a method that is minimally invasive, meaning the recovery time is usually very short. Bleeding and later bruising will typically occur in and around the area where the catheter is introduced, but this is short-lived and pain is minimal.

Patients can expect to leave the hospital a few days after the procedure has been completed and the chance of infection is minimal although the technique can sometimes last a shorter period than that of more invasive surgery. A further, immediate collapse of the vessel or artery after the operation is rare.