Cardiology In Critical Care

PTCA Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

What is PTCA?

"Percutaneous" — through the skin
"Transluminal" — within the lumen or artery
"Coronary" — the artery which supplies the heart muscle
"Angioplasty" — remodeling the artery.

PTCA (Angioplasty) is a mechanical fix to a biological problem. It can correct the immediate danger of blocked arteries.
The advantage of angioplasty over open heart surgery is that it is much less invasive and more repeatable if the disease
advance necessating the correction of more blockages.

History of PTCA

Andreas Gruentzig a physician in Zurich Switzerland inserted a catheter into a patient's coronary artery and inflated a small balloon
opening a blocking and restoring blood flow to a human heart. Over a millian angioplasties (PTCAs) are performed annually.

 

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This page last updated 11/02/00