Balloon angioplasty is a procedure in which a small folded balloon is passed into a narrowed artery through a needle puncture, then inflated to press plaque against the artery wall and improve blood flow, then removed. Balloon angioplasty is most often used to treat leg artery blockage, and Dr. Walid Naser offers it in Amman as part of a plan that starts with an accurate diagnosis.
Note: This page is general education. A balloon does not suit every type of blockage; this is decided after examination and imaging.
When is balloon angioplasty considered?
- Leg pain when walking that affects daily life despite medicines and regular walking.
- Foot pain at rest.
- Slow-healing foot wounds caused by poor blood flow.
- A short or medium-length narrowing that suits treatment from inside the artery.
What does the balloon treat?
The balloon treats narrowing caused by plaque in the artery wall (atherosclerosis). It is also used for:
- Narrowing of the thigh, knee and lower leg arteries.
- Re-narrowing inside an artery treated before, in selected cases.
- Preparing the artery before a stent when needed.
Assessment before the procedure
Examination and imaging show where the narrowing is, how long it is and how calcified it is, which helps decide whether a balloon is suitable.
- Doppler ultrasound.
- CT angiography when needed.
- Kidney function tests before contrast dye is used.
- A review of your medicines and allergies.
Treatment options, simplest first
Balloon angioplasty is part of peripheral artery angioplasty. Your doctor chooses the right device during the procedure based on what the imaging shows.
- Lifestyle changes: stopping smoking and regular walking.
- Medicines prescribed by your doctor for risk factors.
- Plain balloon angioplasty, or a drug-coated balloon designed to reduce re-narrowing in cases your doctor selects.
- Adding a stent if the artery does not stay open well enough after the balloon.
- Open surgery when the blockage does not suit treatment from inside.
The day of the procedure and after
It is usually done under local anaesthetic. A thin wire is passed along the artery and the balloon is guided to the narrowing under X-ray.
- A short rest with pressure on the puncture site.
- Checks on your leg, foot and puncture site.
- Going home the same day or after a short stay, depending on your case.
- Following your medicine and activity instructions.
- Follow-up visits, sometimes with Doppler scans.
When to book an appointment
- Leg pain when walking that makes you stop.
- Foot pain at rest or a wound that does not heal.
- A previous diagnosis of narrowed leg arteries and you want to know your options.