With this procedure, a catheter is used to create a bigger opening in the vessel to increase blood flow. Although angioplasty is performed in other blood vessels, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) refers to angioplasty in the coronary arteries to permit more blood flow into the heart. There are several types of PTCA procedures, including: balloon angioplasty - a small balloon is inflated inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area. atherectomy - the blocked area inside the artery is "shaved" away by a tiny device on the end of a catheter. laser angioplasty - a laser used to "vaporize" the blockage in the artery. coronary artery stent - a tiny coil is expanded inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area and is left in place to keep the artery open.

Procedure with a balloon-tipped catheter to enlarge a narrowing in a coronary artery.

A treatment to improve the blood supply through an artery. A catheter (a fine, hollow tube) with a small inflatable balloon at its tip is inserted into an artery in the groin and passed through to the narrowed coronary artery. The balloon is then gently inflated so that it squashes the cholesterol deposits causing the narrowing, and widens the artery.