| I know, the topic sounds so extraneous, but | | | | guidewire through the same artery in the leg |
| yes it true, today balloons are not only used | | | | and advance it across the blockage. Then, the |
| for celebration or party purpose but they are | | | | balloon-tipped catheter is slipped over the |
| also being applied in medical sciences for | | | | guidewire and advanced to the blockage. When |
| angioplasty. In medical science, angioplasty | | | | this catheter reaches the blockage, the |
| is a surgical procedure in which very small | | | | balloon is inflated. As the balloon expands, |
| balloons are inserted into blocked or | | | | it presses against the plaque, compressing it |
| partially blocked blood vessels near the | | | | against the artery wall. The balloon is then |
| heart. Once in place, the balloon can be | | | | deflated. Doctors may inflate and deflate the |
| inflated to clear or compress arterial | | | | balloon a number of times. The catheter, |
| plaque, and to stretch the walls of the vein. | | | | guidewire, and deflated balloon are then |
| A small stent can be inserted in its place to | | | | removed. If doctors are placing a stent in |
| keep the vessel open after the balloon's | | | | the artery, the stent is put at the tip of |
| removal. See myocardial infarction. Balloons | | | | the catheter, over the balloon. When the |
| are used in the majority of interventional | | | | catheter is positioned at the blockage, the |
| procedures. These devices are inflated to | | | | balloon is inflated, expanding the stent. |
| compress the plaque against the artery wall, | | | | Once the stent is open, the balloon is |
| much like footsteps in the snow, in a | | | | deflated. The catheter, guidewire, and |
| procedure known as "angioplasty", sometimes | | | | deflated balloon are then removed, leaving |
| called "balloon dilatation", sometimes "PTCA" | | | | the stent behind to hold the artery open. |
| (percutaneous transluminal coronary | | | | Firm pressure will be applied to the site |
| angioplasty). Certain catheters have balloons | | | | where the catheter was inserted to stop any |
| at their tip to keep them from slipping out, | | | | bleeding. You will also be bandaged. The |
| for example the balloon of a Foley catheter | | | | whole procedure usually takes about 1 1/2 to |
| is insufflated when the catheter is inserted | | | | 2 1/2 hours, and most patients will spend the |
| into the urinary bladder and secures its | | | | night in the hospital. You may feel a little |
| position. Angioplasty balloon catheters come | | | | sleepy until the sedative has worn off. |
| in a wide range of lengths and diameters, and | | | | Nurses will watch you during the night to see |
| are made from a variety of materials, but the | | | | that your heart rate and blood pressure are |
| major shared characteristic is that the | | | | normal. Hence, medical science proves that, |
| balloon can inflate to a certain diameter and | | | | balloons can somewhere stand as a life saving |
| not beyond, thus allowing a predictable | | | | component for human beings. It save your |
| opening. During a balloon angioplasty, | | | | heart and offer you a new life in the |
| patients are usually told not to eat or drink | | | | existing world. REPRINT RIGHTS statement: |
| anything after midnight the night before the | | | | This article is free for republishing by |
| procedure. Once you are in the cath lab, once | | | | visitors provided the Author Bio box is |
| doctors know the exact location of the | | | | retained as usual so that all links are |
| blockage, they thread what is called a | | | | Active/Linkable with no syntax changes. |