What is the purpose of angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a medical procedure specifically aimed at treating narrowed or blocked blood vessels, usually in the coronary arteries, by widening them. The primary goal is to restore normal blood flow to the heart through the affected vessels.

In this context, option B is accurate because it encapsulates the fundamental purpose of angioplasty: to repair or open up a narrowed or blocked vessel. This is often done using a balloon catheter that is inserted into the site of the blockage; the balloon is then inflated to push the walls of the blood vessel apart, effectively repairing the passage through which blood flows.

Although angioplasty often leads to the placement of a stent (making option A partially correct in the broader context of the procedure), the immediate purpose of angioplasty itself is related to vessel repair. Additionally, while options C and D mention aspects that can relate to angioplasty, they do not directly convey the primary intent behind the procedure, which is focused on the repair and restoration of blood flow rather than removal of plaque or bypassing the blockage.