QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: GLOSSARY

Coronary angiography

A catheter (tube) is passed into an artery in the arm or groin, and advanced into the left or right coronary artery. Angiography means injection of liquid opaque to X-rays, giving a silhouette of the inside of the artery on the X-ray screen. This method is commonly used to decide whether a patient requires PTCA (see next paragraph) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Angioplasty (PTCA - percutaneous coronary angioplasty)

At the time of coronary angiography, a wire is passed through the catheter into the artery. Another tube can then be passed into the artery over a wire upon which there is a balloon. Inflation of this balloon within the narrowing of the artery causing symptoms is then performed.

Stenting

At the time of PTCA, a stent, which may be made of wire mesh, can be placed in the artery where the narrowing was, in order to prevent the narrowing from recurring.

PTCA and stenting are used to relieve symptoms in stable angina; in this case there is no prolongation of life. PTCA and stenting are also sometimes used during coronary thrombosis. If the thrombosis is causing damage to the working heart, the procedure can be life saving. In this situation the procedure must be supported by anti-platelets and anti-thrombotic treatment and subsequent prevention measures with drugs etc.

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