Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
BOOKS
"Diagnostic Cardiovascular Procedures: Invasive Procedures." Section 16, Chapter 198 in The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, edited by Mark H. Beers, MD, and Robert Berkow, MD. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck...
Research Laboratories, 1999.
Schneider, Peter A. Endovascular Skills: Guidewires, Catheters,Arteriography, Balloon Angioplasty, Stents. St. Louis, MO: Quality Medical Publishing, Inc., 1998.
PERIODICALS
Carnall, Douglas. "Angioplasty."Western Journal of Medicine 173 (September 2000): 201.
"New Imaging Technique Could Improve Outcome of Popular Heart Procedure."Heart Disease Weekly (May 13, 2001): 3.
Schiele, F. "The 'Angioplastically Correct' Follow Up Strategy After Stent Implantation."Heart 85 (April, 2001): 363-364.
"Success Clearing Clogged Arteries."Science News 159 (February 3, 2001): 72.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Heart Association (AHA), National Center. 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231. (800) 242-8721.
OTHER
American Heart Association. Heart & Stroke Guide: Laser Angioplasty. [cited July 5, 2001].
MayoClinic.com. Coronary Angioplasty: Opening Clogged Arteries. [cited July 5, 2001].
Miami Heart Research Institute. Cardiovascular System, 2001. [cited July 5, 2001].
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Sometimes used interchangeably, coronary angioplasty and stenting are actually two separate procedures. This video shows how coronary angioplasty and stenting are performed and how the two procedures differ.
During angioplasty, a catheter is fed into the femoral artery of the upper leg (A). The catheter is fed up to coronary arteries to an area of blockage (B). A dye is released, allowing visualization of the blockage (C). A stent is placed on the balloon-tipped catheter. The balloon is inflated, opening the artery (D). The stent holds the artery open after the catheter is removed (E). (Illustration by Argosy.)
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Other Information
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel; typically as a result of atherosclerosis. Tightly folded balloons are 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 word is composed of the medical combining forms of the Greek words αγγειος aggeîos meaning "vessel" and πλαστός plastós meaning "formed" or "moulded". Angioplasty has come to include all manner of vascular interventions typically performed in a minimally invasive or percutaneous method.
Other Information
In 2006, 2,192 heart transplantations were performed in the United States. There are 257 transplant hospitals in the United States, 135 of which perform heart transplantations. (http://www.unos.org/)
From: Unos.org
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