Coronary angioplasty

Coronary Angioplasty (pronounced: kuh-ROH-nuh-ree an-jee-oh-PLAS-tee) is a medical procedure used to open blocked or narrowed Coronary Arteries (the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart). The term originates from the Greek words koronè, meaning crown, angeion, meaning vessel, and plastos, meaning formed.

Procedure

During a Coronary Angioplasty, a small balloon is inflated inside the Coronary Artery to push the plaque against the artery wall, thereby widening the artery and improving blood flow. Often, a small metal tube called a Stent is placed in the artery to keep it open after the procedure.

Types of Coronary Angioplasty

There are several types of Coronary Angioplasty, including:

• Balloon Angioplasty
• Stent Placement
• Atherectomy (the removal of plaque from an artery)
• Cutting Balloon

Risks

Like all medical procedures, Coronary Angioplasty carries some risks. These can include Restenosis (the re-narrowing of the artery), Blood Clots, and, in rare cases, Heart Attack or Stroke.

Related Terms

• Angiogram
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

See Also

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Vascular Surgery

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Coronary angioplasty
• Wikipedia's article - Coronary angioplasty

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