Angioplasty and Stent Placement - Interventional radiologists can often treat blocked or narrowed blood vessels throughout the body, without surgery, by using a small balloon, this is called angioplasty. For example, in some patients high blood pressure is caused by blockage in the artery to the kidney, a condition known as renal vascular hypertension. The interventional radiologist inserts a very small balloon attached to a thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel through a small nick in the skin. The catheter is threaded under x-ray guidance to the site of the blocked artery. The balloon is inflated to open the artery. Sometimes a small metal scaffold/tube, called a stent, is inserted to hold the blood vessel open. In most cases, hospitalization and general anesthesia are not required. There is no surgical incision -- just a small nick in the skin -- and no stitches are needed. Often, patients may return to normal activity shortly after the procedure.