Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA, or balloon angioplasty) is performed in the cardiac cath lab. PTCA brings blood flow to a healthy level by opening arteries closed by fatty plaque. This occurs in the following steps: An expandable balloon catheter is placed into a narrow coronary artery. The balloon is inflated, compressing plaque against the […]
heart
Nuclear Cardiology and Heart Perfusion Imaging
Nuclear cardiology studies assess blood flow of the heart using noninvasive techniques. These procedures assess how well the heart is pumping and can determine the size and location of a heart attack. Heart perfusion imaging is the most popular nuclear cardiology technique. In this technique, the patient exercises and pictures are taken to examine the […]