Percutaneous Transluminal
Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)
Commonly known as “balloon” angioplasty, PTCA
is a procedure undertaken to reshape coronary arteries
which have been severely blocked by atherosclerotic plaque
so as to restore blood supply to heart muscle. A catheter
with a deflated balloon at its tip is first inserted into
an artery in the patient’s leg, and then gradually
manoeuvred to the blocked or narrowed section of the affected
coronary artery. After the balloon has been positioned
to lie across the most severe area of narrowing, it is
inflated and deflated several times. In the process, the
pressure exerted by the balloon as it expands squeezes
the cholesterol deposits against the wall of the coronary
artery. This widens the opening of the affected artery,
thus improving blood supply to the heart. After the procedure
is completed, the balloon is deflated and the catheter
removed. The patient is then closely monitored through
X-rays of his reshaped coronary arteries to see if there
is an improvement in blood flow. In general, the risk
of major complications arising from angioplasty is low,
with the procedure having a high success rate of approximately
90%. The extent to which a blocked coronary artery is
widened by angioplasty may, however, vary significantly
from individual to individual. |
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