A medical procedure used to widen narrowed or blocked blood vessels, typically coronary arteries, by inflating a small balloon inside the vessel. Often combined with stent placement to keep the artery open.
From Greek 'angeion' (vessel) and 'plassein' (to mold or form), literally meaning 'vessel molding.' The procedure was pioneered in 1977 by Andreas Grüntzig, who first used balloon catheters to open blocked coronary arteries.
Try Another Word