The Mechanism of Balloon Impact in Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty in Eccentric Coronary Artery Narrowings

In the early days of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and in particular before the stent era, the selection of the appropriate balloon diameter was crucial for risk and success of the intervention. With larger balloon diameters the risk of vessel wall dissection was increased but the rate of restenosis was much higher when smaller balloons were used. In retrospect, it is surprising how few histopathological studies have been performed during this time period to study the mechanism of PTCA.
Source: The American Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: A historical perspective Source Type: research