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Coronary balloon angioplasty is an invasive method of
opening blocked arteries that might impede flow to the heart, and possibly
result in heart attack or death. It is more formally known as percutaneous
transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA): percutaneous means "through the skin,"
transluminal means "inside the blood vessel," coronary means "relating to the
heart," and angioplasty means "blood vessel repair." Other techniques to relieve
coronary narrowing, such as stents, are called percutanous coronary
interventions (PCI).
Angioplasty
involves creating space in the blocked artery by inserting and inflating a tiny
balloon, which compresses some of the blocking plaque against the arterial wall
when the balloon is deflated and removed, the plaque still remains compressed,
clearing space in the artery and improving blood flow. While angioplasty does
not always completely clear an artery, more than 90 percent of all procedures
are immediately successful.
Since angioplasty is a less invasive procedure than
bypass surgery, it has less risk and a quicker recovery period than bypass.
However, it is not recommended for all patients. Candidates for angioplasty are
chosen based on a patient's age, physical history, and severity of the blockage
or damage. The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of
Cardiology (ACC) have guidelines for prospective angioplasty patients. Your
cardiologist will have reviewed these before recommending the procedure for
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