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Coronary atherectomy is a procedure where a catheter with a laser or rotating tip is used to remove the plaque obstructing the artery, literally blasting away or shaving off the obstruction. Atherectomy tends to be tried before resorting to balloon angioplasty or stenting.
Balloon angioplasty (sometimes called percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or PTCA) involves passing a catheter with a balloon at its tip into the narrowed section. The balloon is inflated, widening the narrowed section. The balloon is then deflated and removed, allowing the blood to flow freely once again.
Sometimes balloon angioplasty is combined with the placement of a wire mesh or stent , which remains in place after the balloon is removed, helping to keep the artery open and the blood flowing freely. Stents can be coated with substances that help prevent restenosis.
Balloon angioplasty and stenting are often tried before resorting to coronary artery bypass grafting (which is major heart surgery). Angioplasty techniques can be repeated if the coronary arteries (or grafted arteries) restenose.