What are the pros and cons of balloon angioplasty and bypass surgery?

Depends on cause: Balloon angioplasty works best for localized narrowing in an artery. It is performed by inserting a catheter (long tube) in an artery, usually at the groin. The balloon stretches out the narrowed area to open it. Recovery time is just a day or two, much shorter than a bypass. Bypasses are used for total blockage of an artery, where a balloon can't get in or when balloon angioplasty has failed.