Stroke treatment: Procedures

Angioplasty for stroke prevention

Angioplasty is a procedure that can open blocked arteries.

1. A doctor inserts a long, narrow catheter into an artery in your groin.
2. He or she guides the catheter to your blocked artery.
3. The doctor inflates the small balloon on the end of the catheter, reopening the artery. He or she may put a stent (small tube) into the artery to keep it from getting blocked again.

This procedure cannot be done on a totally blocked carotid artery.

Intra-arterial clot lysis

Using the same technique as an angiogram, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) or a similar medicine is given directly into the clogged artery through a catheter.

Treatment of aneurysm (embolization)

This is a procedure used to close off an aneurysm.

1. A neuroradiologist inserts a long, narrow catheter to an artery in your groin and guides it to the aneurysm in your brain.
2. The doctor then threads small coils through the catheter into the aneurysm.
3. These coils fill the aneurysm and help to prevent it from bleeding again.

Related Links

Stroke treatment: Medicines

Stroke treatment: Surgery

The stroke recovery team

Neurology specialists

Radiology specialists

First published: 02/01/2006
Last updated: 02/01/2006

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts