With cardiovascular diseases becoming increasingly common among the young and the old blockages in the heart is a frequent problem cardiologists have to face. To treat blockages angioplasty and stent placement are common procedures used to open arteries that are clogged. These procedures are formally known as coronary angioplasty or percutaneous coronary intervention (when stents are placed). Angioplasty involves the use of a tiny balloon to open the blocked artery. A stent is a tiny wire-mesh tube that is inserted into the artery. The stent stays in place to prevent the artery from closing again. Angioplasty and stent placement are