Which procedure uses a small balloon to reopen a blocked coronary artery and improve blood flow?

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Dive into medical terminology with The Pitt Medical Terminology Test. Enhance your learning using flashcards and multiple choice questions. Prepare for your exam confidently with detailed hints and explanations.

Multiple Choice

Which procedure uses a small balloon to reopen a blocked coronary artery and improve blood flow?

Explanation:
Opening a blocked coronary artery with a small balloon is the essence of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, specifically balloon angioplasty. In this approach, a catheter with a deflated balloon is threaded to the blockage; inflating the balloon compresses plaque against the wall and widens the vessel, restoring blood flow. Often a stent is placed to keep the artery open. This differs from CABG, which uses surgery to bypass the blocked segment; thrombolysis dissolves clots with drugs rather than mechanically widening the vessel; and angiography is the imaging test used to visualize arteries and detect blockages, not the therapy itself.

Opening a blocked coronary artery with a small balloon is the essence of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, specifically balloon angioplasty. In this approach, a catheter with a deflated balloon is threaded to the blockage; inflating the balloon compresses plaque against the wall and widens the vessel, restoring blood flow. Often a stent is placed to keep the artery open. This differs from CABG, which uses surgery to bypass the blocked segment; thrombolysis dissolves clots with drugs rather than mechanically widening the vessel; and angiography is the imaging test used to visualize arteries and detect blockages, not the therapy itself.

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