Dictionary Home »
Medical Definitions » balloon angioplasty
balloon angioplasty medical definition
noun
A procedure in which a catheter equipped with a tiny balloon at the tip is inserted into an artery that has been narrowed by the accumulation of fatty deposits. The balloon is then inflated to clear the blockage and widen the artery.
(click for a larger image)
balloon angioplasty
Top: uninflated balloon approaching obstructed artery
Center: inflated balloon clearing atherosclerotic plaque
Bottom: withdrawal of deflated balloon
Learn more about balloon angioplasty
