|
 |
Heart Hospital - Procedures
Cutting Balloon
What is a Cutting Balloon procedure?
A cutting balloon procedure is one of the non-surgical methods of opening a narrowed coronary (heart) artery to allow for increased blood flow to the heart muscle. Cutting balloons are mainly used to open stents that have re-occluded with plaque, calcium or fatty matter. The procedure is performed during a heart catheterization.
A catheter is inserted into an artery - usually through the groin - but sometimes through the arm or wrist. The catheter is advanced to the heart, and a series of
X-ray pictures (coronary angiogram) are taken to clearly visualize the heart arteries that are narrowed, or stents that have re-occluded. Then, a balloon-tipped catheter is advanced to the heart, and into the narrowed coronary artery.
The cutting balloon catheter has a special balloon tip with small blades. When the balloon is inflated, the blades are activated. The small blades
cut the plaque. The balloon then compresses the fatty matter further into the artery wall. This widens the artery so blood flow improves.
X-ray pictures are repeated, and if the artery has been successfully re-opened, the catheters are removed. Pressure is applied to the access puncture site (to stop bleeding) while the patient rests quietly.
Where is the procedure performed?
In the cardiovascular lab.
How long does this procedure take?
The Cutting Balloon procedure usually takes 1-2 hours.
For more information about angioplasties and stents, see our article titled Coronary Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting.
8/3/2008
|
