Coronary Angioplasty

With this procedure, a catheter is used to create a bigger opening in the vessel to increase blood flow. Although angioplasty is performed in other blood vessels, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) refers to angioplasty in the coronary arteries to permit more blood flow into the heart. There are several types of PTCA procedures, including: 

balloon angioplasty - a small balloon is inflated inside the blocked artery
to open the blocked area.

atherectomy - the blocked area inside the artery is "shaved" away by a
tiny device on the end of a catheter.

laser angioplasty - a laser used to "vaporize" the blockage in the artery.

coronary artery stent - a tiny coil is expanded inside the blocked artery to
open the blocked area and is left in place to keep the artery open. 

 

Why are the coronary arteries important?
Since coronary arteries deliver blood to the heart muscle, any coronary artery disorderor disease can have serious implications by reducing the flow of oxygen and nutrientsto the heart, which may lead to a heart attack and possibly death. Atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery causing it to narrow or become blocked) is the most common form of coronary artery disease.