4. Emergency Situations
During a heart attack, angioplasty is often done as an emergency procedure. When plaque builds up throughout the coronary arteries it can cause them to burst. This will create a blood clot on the surface. If the clot gets big enough it can mostly or totally block the blood flow to areas of the heart muscle.
Being able to open up the blockage can help to lessen the damage to the heart when experiencing a heart attack. Opening up the blockage will restore the flow of blood to the heart muscle quickly. Using angioplasty during an emergency allows the surgeon to open up the artery, which makes it the best option when a person is experiencing a heart attack.
When a heart attack occurs, damage to the heart can happen very quickly. For this reason, acting quickly to get the blood flowing back to the heart is extremely important.