The PTCA Procedure: Restoring Blood Flow to Blocked Coronary Arteries
PTCA, or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, is an invasive procedure to open blocked arteries in the heart that has become more and more common since it was first introduced in the mid-1980s. It involves inserting a wire into the arteries of the heart, where it then expands to push away blockages and restore blood flow to the heart muscle. The PTCA procedure has increased in popularity because it can help reduce the severity of angina and other symptoms caused by coronary artery disease while also preventing heart attacks and strokes from occurring. Introduction An important part of the heart's circulatory system is the coronary artery, which supplies oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. If a coronary artery becomes blocked, either by a clot or atherosclerosis, it can lead to chest pain and potentially even death. There are two ways that a blocked artery can be unblocked: stent placement or angioplasty with balloon dilation (PTCA). Stents are small metal scaffolds t...