Cerebral angioplasty is a medical procedure that helps open up blocked or narrowed blood vessels in the brain. These blockages can reduce blood flow and may lead to serious problems like strokes. During the procedure, a doctor threads a thin tube, called a catheter, through a blood vessel in the groin or arm and guides it up to the brain.
Once the catheter is in place, a small balloon at the tip is inflated inside the narrowed artery. This helps push the blockage to the sides and opens up the blood vessels, improving blood flow to the brain. Sometimes, a small metal mesh tube called a stent is also inserted. The stent helps keep the artery open and prevents it from narrowing again.
Cerebral angioplasty can help prevent strokes or other issues caused by reduced blood flow in the brain. The procedure is minimally invasive, meaning it doesn't require major surgery, and recovery time is usually quicker than traditional surgery. However, like any procedure, it does carry some risks, such as bleeding, infection, or damage to the blood vessel.
Symptoms that may lead a doctor to recommend cerebral angioplasty include:
These symptoms may indicate poor blood flow to the brain due to narrowed or blocked arteries, which increases the risk of a stroke.
Cerebral angioplasty is often needed because of conditions that cause narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the brain. Some common causes include:
You should seek medical attention if you experience:
These symptoms could indicate a stroke or a serious issue with blood flow to the brain, requiring immediate medical intervention.
To determine whether cerebral angioplasty is needed, doctors use several diagnostic tests:
Do's:
Don'ts:
NOTE:
Our team of medical content authors has carefully collected and analyzed information on this topic to provide valuable insights to our readers. Utilizing a variety of reputable medical journals and health resources, this content aims to improve understanding of the subject. Please remember that while this information is informative, it should not substitute for personalized consultation or treatment from a qualified physician. For more details, please refer to our Editorial Policy.
For this topic, our authors used some of the following resources:
Stanford Health Care | Cerebral Angioplasty
Johns Hopkins Medicine | Cerebral Arteriogram
American Heart Association Journals | Angioplasty for Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis | Stroke
ScienceDirect.com | Intracranial Angioplasty and Stent Placement for Cerebral
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