The term balloon angioplasty is commonly used to describe the inflation of a balloon within the coronary artery to crush the plaque into the walls of the artery.
While balloon angioplasty is still done as a part of nearly all percutaneous coronary interventions, it is rarely the only procedure performed.
Lower success rates, higher complication rates and higher restenosis after balloon angioplasty in small coronary arteries than in large coronary arteries.
Approximately 30%-40% of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention have small coronary arteries, less than 3mm in size.
Restenosis occurs in 30-40% of patients within six months after balloon angioplasty and in 20-30% of patients after balloon angioplasty followed by stenting.
Coronary artery angioplasty with stents procedure performed less often in patients with small coronary arteries.
Demonstrate reduced rates of restenosis compared with balloon angioplasty.
The rates of abrupt artery closure and complex dissection associated with catheter-based interventions have declined to 1% and 5%, respectively.