What is Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty: Overview, Benefits, and Expected Results

Percutaneous‍ Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty ​(PTA) is a minimally invasive medical procedure used for the treatment of narrowed or obstructed arteries, commonly known as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). ​ This procedure is a safe, effective, and widely recommended treatment​ for arterial blockages.



In this article, we will provide an overview of⁤ Percutaneous Transluminal ⁣Balloon Angioplasty, its benefits, and the expected results of the procedure.



## What is Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty?



Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty (PTA) is an interventional procedure performed to relieve blockages in the arteries. During the procedure, a thin tube containing a balloon‌ at ⁢the ​tip, called a catheter,⁣ is inserted into the narrowed artery from a small incision in the groin ⁣area.



Once the‌ catheter is ‌in position, the balloon is then inflated to widen the artery and the ⁣obstruction is removed. The most commonly ⁣used balloons for PTA are made from polyethylene or ​polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).



## Benefits of ⁣Percutaneous‌ Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty



Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty ‌is an effective and​ safe treatment for arterial blockages and offers multiple benefits such as:



* It is a minimally invasive procedure

* It does not require a major surgical operation

* It is less costly⁣ and less time-consuming than more complex treatments

* It carries low risks of ​complications

*‌ The results can be seen immediately



## Expected Results from Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty



The expected results of Percutaneous ⁣Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty depend largely on the type and severity of the arterial blockage. Generally, the procedure is effective at relieving the obstruction in the artery, which helps improve blood flow.



It is important to note that, even though the procedure may ‌be successful in relieving the blockage, some blockages can recur. Doctors recommend lifestyle measures and​ medications to reduce the risk of recurrence.



## Other Considerations



Percutaneous Transluminal ⁢Balloon‍ Angioplasty is safe and minimally invasive, but‍ there are still some risks associated with the procedure, including bleeding,⁣ bruising, and infection at the insertion site. There is also the possibility of additional ‌complications ‍such as an allergic reaction to the medications used,⁢ artery ​or organ damage during the procedure, ​or developing a clot in ⁤the artery.



As with any medical procedure, it’s important to consult with ⁢a trained medical professional such as a cardiologist or vascular specialist to determine if PTA is the right treatment option for you⁤ and ⁢to discuss any ⁢possible ⁤risks or side effects.



Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty is an effective treatment for arterial blockages, offering immediate relief of symptoms and improved blood flow. The procedure is minimally invasive and is typically associated with a low risk of complications.



It is important to speak to your doctor to discuss all ⁤questions and concerns prior to the ‍procedure to ensure you get the best possible​ results.

Definition & Overview

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty, or angioplasty in general, is a procedure that opens a blocked blood vessel (such as an artery) using a flexible, narrow tube called a catheter. The catheter has a balloon at the tip that is inflated inside the blood vessel to widen the diameter of the blocked artery or vein.

Transluminal balloon angioplasty removes the blockage to restore normal blood flow, which can help prevent serious medical conditions including stroke or heart attack.

The blockage of visceral arteries is typically caused by fatty deposits. Visceral arteries are those that supply blood to the liver, intestine, and spleen. The fatty deposits can break off from their current location and can be carried or transported through the bloodstream. When this happens, it is possible for them to get stuck in blood vessels and cause partial or total blockage of the area. This moving particle in the blood is referred to in medicine as an embolus.

The lumen, the central cavity of a hollow structure such as a blood vessel, is very limited in that any tiny blockage can cause a haemostatic (blood flow) imbalance. This creates a domino effect in the entire human body and can affect the function of other tissues and organs because all these structures depend on the blood for oxygen and nutrient supply.

The procedure is called transluminal because the device is inserted or passed through the lumen of a certain blood vessel.

Who Should Undergo and Expected Results?

Patients diagnosed with a blocked renal or aortic artery are candidates for this procedure. The rate of success of balloon angioplasty has been consistently improving due to the increase in understanding of the condition as well as the introduction of newer techniques in treating the condition.

However, restenosis can occur especially in patients with other medical conditions or diseases such as diabetes. Recently, the issue of restenosis is becoming less common because of the use of stents.

Stents are stainless tubes with slots. They are introduced to the artery using a balloon catheter. They provide support to the inner walls of the arteries so they stay open and do not recoil or spring back to their usual diameter size.

The use of stents has remarkable effects in the treatment of stenosis or blocked vessels. It has reduced the incidence of restenosis by as much as 50%.

How is the Procedure Performed?

The team tasked to carry out percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty is multidisciplinary. A radiologist, cardiologist, and anaesthesiologist are involved in the procedure.

A local anaesthesia is applied to the femoral artery where a needle is inserted. A guidewire is inserted into the needle and replaced with a two-port instrument where flexible devices, such as a catheter, are inserted.

Another thinner guidewire is used to replace the initial guidewire before a catheter is passed through until it reaches the aorta or the renal artery. A dye is injected and the area is x-rayed so that doctors can see exactly the treatment area. As soon as this is done, another thinner wire that contains the balloon will replace the other one. A balloon catheter is then guided to the area where the balloon is inflated to increase the size or diameter of the target artery. The balloon is inflated and deflated several times until the desirable size is achieved.

A stent is then installed to keep the blood vessel from recoiling. Another dye is injected to check if there are areas that require treatment. Once cleared, the catheter is removed.

Possible Risks and Complications

The success rate of percutaneous balloon angioplasty is high, offering effective symptoms relief by as much as 95%.

One of the risks involved in this procedure is the sudden collapse or closure of the dilated artery just a few hours after the procedure. This warrants immediate medical intervention as it can cause heart or renal failure.

The sudden closure of a dilated artery is often due to the presence of blood clots, weakened inner lining of the arterial wall, or elastic recoil (spasm) of the dilated artery.

To prevent the formation of blood clots in the arterial wall, patients are given a special type of aspirin (clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor) through IV. Heparin, an anticoagulant, is also used as well as nitrates and calcium blockers to prevent blood vessel spasm that causes arterial recoil.

Medical reports show that recoil is usually observed in women, people with unstable symptoms of angina (chest pain), and those with a higher genetic risk for heart attack.

If percutaneous transluminal angioplasty fails, another medical procedure called coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) may be attempted.

The mortality rate for post balloon angioplasty is low at just 1% making it the preferred procedure by most doctors when treating the condition.

References:

• John Hopkins Medicine; ”Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA)”; http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/interventional-radiology/procedures/pta/

• Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI; “Coronary Balloon Angioplasty and Stents (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, PCI); http://www.medicinenet.com/coronaryangioplasty/page7.htm#whatarethelong-termresultsofpercutaneouscoronary_intervention

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