PTCA stands for Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty. It is a medical procedure that is used to treat a blocked or narrowed coronary artery in the heart. During the procedure, a catheter with a small balloon on its tip is inserted through an artery in the groin or arm and guided to the site of the blockage. The balloon is then inflated to open the artery and improve blood flow. In some cases, a stent (a small mesh tube) may also be inserted to help keep the artery open. PTCA is a minimally invasive procedure and is commonly used to treat coronary artery disease.
PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty) and stent placement are related procedures, but they are not the same thing.
PTCA is a procedure where a small balloon on the tip of a catheter is inserted through an artery and guided to the site of a blocked or narrowed coronary artery. The balloon is then inflated to widen the artery and improve blood flow.
In some cases, a stent is inserted during a PTCA procedure. A stent is a small mesh tube that is inserted into the artery to help keep it open after the balloon has been inflated and removed. Stents may be made of metal or a material that dissolves over time.