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Medical Author:

Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Dr. Kulick received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at the Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center and a fellowship in the section of cardiology at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• What is balloon angioplasty?
• How does coronary artery disease develop?
• How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?
• How is coronary artery disease treated?
• What are the complications of percutaneous coronary intervention?
• How do patients recover after percutaneous coronary intervention?
• What are the long-term results of percutaneous coronary intervention?
• Coronary Balloon Angioplasty and Stents At A Glance
• Find a local Cardiologist in your town
• Coronary Angioplasty Index

Coronary Balloon Angioplasty and Stents At A Glance

• Coronary angioplasty is accomplished using a balloon-tipped catheter inserted through an artery in the groin or arm to enlarge a narrowing in a coronary artery.

• Coronary artery disease occurs when cholesterol plaque builds up (arteriosclerosis) in the walls of the arteries to the heart.

• Angioplasty is successful in opening coronary arteries in well over 90% of patients.

• Up to 30% to 40% of patients with successful coronary angioplasty will develop recurrent narrowing at the site of balloon inflation.

• The use of newer devices such as intracoronary stents and atherectomy, as well as newer pharmacologic agents has resulted in higher success rates, reduced complications, and reduced recurrence after percutaneous coronary intervention.

REFERENCE: eMedicine.com. "Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty".
<http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/161446-overview>