What's the Distinction Between Angiography, Angioplasty, and Stenting?

Angiography: A medical imaging process that visualizes blood vessels using contrast dye and X-rays.

Angioplasty: A minimally invasive technique that uses a catheter and balloon inflation to widen restricted or obstructed blood arteries.

Stent: A short mesh-like tube put in a treated blood artery during angioplasty to keep it open and prevent it from narrowing again.

PTCA , which stands for "percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty," is a medical procedure commonly used to treat coronary artery blockages. It involves inserting a heart stent to widen narrowed arteries, making coronary stent implantation a critical aspect of stents in heart procedures.

Treatment & Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Angiography: Angiography is generally used for diagnostic purposes to observe and analyse the state of blood arteries in various locations of the body. A contrast dye is injected into the circulation, followed by imaging methods such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound. The contrast dye draws attention to the blood arteries, allowing clinicians to detect any blockages, narrowing, or abnormalities. This assists in the detection of conditions such as coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and brain vascular illnesses. Angiography images provide critical information on the location, extent, and severity of vascular abnormalities, assisting in treatment planning and decision-making.

Angioplasty with Stent Implantation Angioplasty and stent implantation are therapeutic operations used to treat restricted or blocked arteries.Blood vessels are clogged. They are frequently performed in response to the findings of angiography or other diagnostic techniques that reveal significant arterial blockage. By performing angioplasty, doctors may confirm the presence and severity of blockages and identify their potential for intervention. During the procedure, balloon inflation helps to determine the efficacy of artery dilatation, whereas stent placement verifies the need for structural support and helps to preserve vascular patency. These operations serve both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, providing immediate relief and restoring blood flow in injured blood arteries.