Coronary Heart Disease (cont.)
Medical Author:
Vibhuti N Singh, MD, MPH, FACC, FSCAI
Medical Editor:
Alan D Forker, MD
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
Michael E Zevitz, MD
IN THIS ARTICLE
Medical Treatment: Invasive ProceduresWhen angina symptoms worsen despite medications, you may need an invasive procedure in the cardiac catheterization lab to clear the blocked artery. These procedures are performed by a cardiologist, not a cardiac surgeon, and have fewer complications. Coronary angioplasty (PTCA): This procedure is similar to coronary angiography (cardiac catheterization or a dye study to visualize the inside of coronary arteries) but is therapeutic as well as diagnostic.
Stent: A stent is a small, sieved, coil-like metallic tube or scaffold mounted over a balloon.
Atherectomy: Sometimes the plaques become too rigid, bulky, or calcified to be treated with angioplasty or a stent.
Brachytherapy: Radiation is applied to the blockage to clear it.
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