$Unique_ID{BRK00165}
$Pretitle{Circulatory System}
$Title{What are Coronary Artery Disease and PTCA?}
$Subject{PTCA heart surgery coronary arteries}
$Volume{G-4}
$Log{
The Coronary Arteries*0008901.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What are Coronary Artery Disease and PTCA?


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QUESTION:  I have had recurrent chest pain and now my doctor wants me to have
surgery.  He says I have coronary artery disease and need something called
PTCA.  Please tell me about it.  Is it safe?

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ANSWER:  It seems your clogged arteries are due to an excess of fat that has
built up inside your heart muscle.  PTCA--percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty (what a mouthfull, that's why we use the letters to identify the
procedure)--allows those arteries to be opened up.  In the procedure, an
inflatable balloon is used to flatten out the fatty buildup and thus restore
the flow of blood to that part of your heart.
     The surgery begins with a local anesthetic.  Doctors will then insert a
long thin catheter tube into a large blood vessel in either the upper arm or
upper leg.  While looking at an x-ray for guidance, the doctor moves this
guiding catheter into the artery.  A guide wire, which goes through the
guiding catheter is advanced further into the artery, far past the part that
is clogged.  The balloon catheter (which goes through the guiding catheter) is
slid over the guide wire to the area that is blocked.  The balloon is then
filled with fluid for up to two minutes.  As the balloon fills, it flattens
the excess fat and once again opens the way for the blood to flow in the
artery.  Depending on your blockage, your doctor may need to reinflate the
balloon a few times to completely open up the artery.  While the balloon is
inflated, you may experience mild chest pain.  The complications from this
surgery are minimal and it is considered a relatively safe operation.
     The success rate for PTCA in America is about 91%.  About 25-35 percent
of patients require a second or third PTCA procedure because of reclogging.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
