PTCA
PTCA
Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), pronounced as /pɜːrˈkjuːtənɪəs trænzˈluːmɪnəl kɔːrəˈnɛri ændʒɪˈɒplæsti/, is a minimally invasive procedure to open up blocked coronary arteries, allowing blood to circulate unobstructed to the heart muscle.
The term originates from the following roots:
- Percutaneous - from Latin per (through) and cutis (skin)
- Transluminal - from Latin trans (across) and lumen (light, an opening)
- Coronary - from Latin corona (crown), referring to the crown-like circle of blood vessels seen encircling the heart in anatomic drawings
- Angioplasty - from Greek angeion (vessel) and plastos (formed)
Procedure
The PTCA procedure involves inserting a catheter (a thin flexible tube) into a blood vessel in the arm or groin. The catheter is threaded through the blood vessels until it reaches the coronary arteries. A small balloon on the end of the catheter is then inflated to widen the blocked artery. In some cases, a small metal tube called a stent is inserted to keep the artery open.
Related Terms
- Angiogram: An X-ray image of the blood vessels.
- Stent: A small mesh tube that’s used to treat narrow or weak arteries.
- Catheter: A thin tube made from medical grade materials serving a broad range of functions.
- Coronary arteries: The two main arteries that provide blood to the heart muscle.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on PTCA
- Wikipedia's article - PTCA
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski