Balloon Angioplasty

Description

Balloon angioplasty of the coronary artery, or PercutaneousTransluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), was introduced in the late 1970’s. PTCA is a non-surgical procedure that relieves narrowing and obstruction of the arteries to the muscle of the heart (coronary arteries). This allows more blood and oxygen to be delivered to the heart muscle. Percutaneous coronary intervention is accomplished with a small balloon catheter inserted into an artery in the groin or arm, and advanced to the narrowing in the coronary artery. The balloon is then inflated to enlarge the narrowing in the artery. A stent is also now inserted the same way as the Balloon Catheter and expanded to the walls of the artery.