Coronary Angiography with Stent Insertion
Restore Your Heart Health with a Minimally Invasive Solution for Coronary Artery Disease
Book a ConsultationExpert Angioplasty for Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Angiography with Stent Insertion offers you a safe, minimally invasive way to treat blocked arteries and reduce the risk of heart attack, without the need for open-heart surgery. If you’re experiencing chest pain or breathlessness, our trusted heart specialists are here to help you feel better, faster. Most procedures take between 30 minutes and 2 hours, with many patients able to return home the same day. With hundreds of successful angioplasty procedures performed and an excellent Doctify rating, we combine expert cardiac care with genuine compassion.
Book a ConsultationUnderstanding Angioplasty
What is Coronary Angiography with Stent Insertion?
Coronary angioplasty, often called a “stent procedure,” is a minimally invasive treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD), where plaque narrows or blocks the heart’s arteries. Using a small incision in the wrist, arm, or groin, our cardiologists guide a catheter to the affected artery. A tiny balloon inflates to widen the blockage, and a stent—a drug-coated wire mesh tube is placed to keep the artery open, restoring blood flow. Thanks to this modern approach, over 95% of cases are performed as day case procedures.
Incision
A small incision is made in the wrist, arm, or groin for arterial access.
Catheter Insertion
A catheter carrying a balloon and a drug-coated stent is inserted into the artery via the incision.
Catheter Guidance
Using imaging, the catheter is guided through the arteries to the coronary blockage.
Balloon Inflation
At the blockage, the balloon is inflated, expanding the stent to widen the artery by compressing plaque.
Stent Placement
A drug-coated stent (a wire mesh tube) is placed to keep the artery open, reducing re-narrowing risk.
Sutureless Arterial Closure
The catheter is withdrawn, and a special dissolving plug is used to seal the femoral artery, eliminating the need for traditional stitches.
Is Angioplasty Right for You?
Who Needs Angioplasty?
Coronary artery disease develops when plaque builds up in the heart’s arteries, reducing blood flow and causing symptoms like angina (chest pain), shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or palpitations.
You may need an angioplasty if:
- You experience chest pain or breathing issues during activity or rest.
- Diagnostic tests (e.g., ECG, Echo, CT scan) show abnormal activity and/or significant artery narrowing.
- You seek quick relief—our patients often resume normal life in one week.
Our pre-operative assessment process includes tests like ECG and echocardiogram to tailor your treatment, whether for stable angina or urgent blockages.
Wondering if angioplasty fits your needs? Book a consultation to meet our team.
What Do I Need to Know About Angioplasty?
Benefits and Risks
Angioplasty with stents restores blood flow, transforming daily life for CAD patients. Our patients return to activities like walking or working almost immediately, thanks to the procedure’s minimally invasive nature.
Key benefits include:
- Immediate Relief: Eases chest pain and shortness of breath, often instantly.
- Quick Recovery: Same-day or overnight discharge, far faster than invasive surgery.
- Advanced Stents and Procedural Techniques: Drug-eluting stents and routine intravascular imaging reduce re-narrowing to less than 5% in 5 years.
Risks are generally low, with OHC’s advanced screening ensuring your safety and suitability for the procedure. There is a <1% chance of complication like bleeding, heart attack, death or stroke Our team provides full transparency, discussing all risks during your consultation.
Trusted Angioplasty Care at OHC
Why OHC Stands Out
One Heart Clinic delivers exceptional angioplasty care in a supportive setting. With hundreds of successful procedures annually and an excellent Doctify rating, we are widely recommended by patients and GPs across the UK. Our advanced cardiac theatres, partnerships with top London hospitals, and teams of internationally acclaimed cardiologists ensure that you receive remarkable heart care that is delivered with compassion.
- Expert Surgeons: Our specialists, including Dr. Sayan Sen, use a multi-disciplinary approach, ensuring tailored, high-success procedures.
- Fast Access: Heart health can’t wait—suitable patients can have surgery within 7 days of consultation.
- Premier Hospitals: We operate in London’s top hospitals, offering cutting-edge facilities for seamless care.
- Concierge Support: From your first call to your final follow-up, you’ll have a dedicated care coordinator guiding you every step of the way.
At One Heart Clinic, the cardiologist you meet in your initial consultation will be the same trusted specialist who performs your procedure and oversees your recovery. This personalised approach ensures you feel supported, heard, and cared for every moment of your journey.
Our Angioplasty Experts
Meet Our Specialists
Your angioplasty is led by OHC’s globally recognised cardiologists, who not only perform but also teach the latest techniques to other operators worldwide:
Dr. Sayan Sen
Interventional Cardiologist: With 19 years’ experience and over 5000 procedures, Dr. Sen is an internationally acclaimed trainer, often performing live cases to educate global specialists.
Dr. Richard Jabbour
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist: With 13 years’ experience and over 2000 procedures, Dr. Jabbour’s award-winning research has influenced the major international cardiology guidelines.
Dr. Ricardo Petraco
Consultant & Clinician-Researcher: With 15 years’ experience and over 4000 procedures, Dr. Petraco is a world-leading expert having authored extensively in the field of coronary physiology and intravascular imaging.
Real Results from OHC Patients
Patient Stories
Explore Private Angioplasty with OHC
Self-Pay with OHC
You can skip NHS wait lists with our access to private angioplasty in an all-inclusive package priced at £15,895. Our pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees, giving you peace of mind including management of any procedural complications if they occur - ensuring no surprise costs.
Our comprehensive packages include:
- Pre-operative tests (ECG, Echo)
- The procedure (30 minutes to 2 hours)
- Operator, surgeon, and anaesthetist fees
- Overnight stay (if needed)
- In-patient care
- Two follow-up appointments with your cardiologist
Q&A
Your Angioplasty Questions Answered
First, you will meet the team looking after you during your procedure and provide your consent. You will be introduced to everyone in the theatre involved in your care.
Once we are ready to start the procedure, you’ll lie on an X-ray table, connected to a heart monitor, and receive a local anaesthetic to keep you comfortable. An IV line may be used for medications if needed.
Your cardiologist will begin by making a small incision in your wrist, arm, or groin to access an artery with a thin tube. A catheter is guided through this tube to the narrowed artery, followed by a fine wire reaching the blockage. A small balloon is threaded over the wire and inflated to push aside plaque, widening the artery.
Next, the stent, a tiny mesh tube, is placed on the balloon and expands as it inflates, staying in the artery when the balloon is removed. Your doctor checks blood flow using contrast dye to ensure the artery is open and functioning well.
You will then be taken to a ward to recover where you will be monitored by the inpatient team who will take care of you, answer any questions you might have, and notify you when you can go home.
Angioplasty improves blood flow in narrowed arteries, helping to relieve chest pain and reduce the risk of heart attacks. This helps you return to a normal quality of life, able to engage in your regular activities without anxiety. This procedure offers immediate symptom relief for many patients and can be a critical emergency treatment during a heart attack.
Angioplasty is a widely performed, minimally invasive procedure considered safe for most patients. The overall complication rate is low. This procedure requires only a small incision, and you’ll typically stay awake with local anaesthesia, reducing risks compared to open surgery. Our operators are highly experienced in performing the procedure, with hundreds of patients benefitting every year.
Our team discusses all risks and benefits with you beforehand and uses advanced screening to keep complications to a minimum, with hundreds of successful procedures performed annually. While angioplasty is generally safe, possible complications include:
- Minor bleeding or bruising at the catheter insertion site.
- Rare risk of blood clots forming inside the stent.
- Low chance of infection near the incision area.
You will have a dedicated patient concierge who will guide you through the preparation for your procedure, answering all your questions, and making sure you feel ready and safe before you reach the theatre. You will be given detailed instructions that include:
- When to stop eating or drinking before the procedure.
- Which medications to continue or pause.
- Expected hospital stay, typically same-day or overnight.
- What to expect during your recovery.
- Tips for living with a stent, such as lifestyle and exercise adjustments.
You’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you home, usually on the same day or after a short observation period.
Your operator will discuss this with you before your procedure, so you know what type of stent we are using, and why. There are 2 widely used types of stents, used in different situations:
- Bare Metal Stents: These are uncoated stents, made of a metal mesh.
- Drug-Eluting Stents: These stents are coated with medication that is released slowly into the artery to reduce the risk of the artery narrowing again.
After a stent insertion, many people experience improved energy levels, reduced chest pain, and shortness of breath almost immediately. However, it’s common to feel tired and experience some discomfort at the catheter insertion site for a few days. Most people can resume light activities within a few days, although your operator will give you specific advice based on your situation.
The procedure itself usually takes between 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the blockage. You will be with our team in the hospital preparing for the procedure beforehand, and in recovery from a few hours to a day or so.
We’re here for you. Please don’t hesitate to call our office or speak with your patient concierge. Your peace of mind is just as important as your physical health.
Your Path to Angioplasty Recovery
Your Journey
Book
Choose your consultant and schedule your consultation.
Assess
Pre-operative tests (ECG, Echo) plan your personalised care.
Treat
Procedure within 7 days at a leading London hospital, with same-day or overnight discharge and short recovery.