Angioplasty can be used to open narrowed arteries in the legs, just as it does in the heart. Like angiography, it involves inserting a thin tube (catheter) into the femoral artery at a point near the groin, then threading it down into the thigh. However, instead of releasing a dye, this catheter carries a balloon on its tip. By inflating this balloon at the site of the blockage, the doctor can push the plaque back against the artery walls. Typically, a small length of expandable metal mesh tubing (called a "stent") is then placed at the site to keep the artery open. Experimental biodegradable stents - which are fully absorbed by the body within two years of implantation - have been successfully tested in a group of Japanese patients. These new stents may be less likely to trigger the inflammatory reactions and injuries occasionally caused by metal stents.

Expected Outcome; Side-Effects