Angioplasty
Overview
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel
, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis
. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter
, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size using water pressures some 75 to 500 times normal blood pressure
(6 to 20 atmospheres). The balloon crushes the fatty deposits, opening up the blood vessel for improved flow, and the balloon is then deflated and withdrawn.
The word is composed of the medical combining forms of the Greek
words ανγειος angeus meaning "vessel" and πλαστός plastus meaning "formed" or "moulded." Angioplasty has come to include all manner of vascular
interventions that are typically performed in a minimally invasive or percutaneous
method.
Angioplasty was initially described by the US interventional radiologist Charles Dotter in 1964.
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...
. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter
Balloon catheter
A balloon catheter is a type of "soft" catheter with an inflatable "balloon" at its tip which is used during a catheterization procedure to enlarge a narrow opening or passage within the body...
, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size using water pressures some 75 to 500 times normal blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
(6 to 20 atmospheres). The balloon crushes the fatty deposits, opening up the blood vessel for improved flow, and the balloon is then deflated and withdrawn.
The word is composed of the medical combining forms of the Greek
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
words ανγειος angeus meaning "vessel" and πλαστός plastus meaning "formed" or "moulded." Angioplasty has come to include all manner of vascular
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
interventions that are typically performed in a minimally invasive or percutaneous
Percutaneous
In surgery, percutaneous pertains to any medical procedure where access to inner organs or other tissue is done via needle-puncture of the skin, rather than by using an "open" approach where inner organs or tissue are exposed .The percutaneous approach is commonly used in vascular procedures...
method.
Angioplasty was initially described by the US interventional radiologist Charles Dotter in 1964.
Unanswered Questions
