April
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Balloon angioplasty refers to the dilatation of a constricted artery by a balloon catheter which is introduced into the artery. The balloon is forced to expand at the site of constriction and the artery is again made normal. This technique is used in cases of:

1. Atherosclerosis
2. Congenital heart disorders

The technique requires experienced hands and cannot be performed by someone trained overnight. The main elements involved in this process are:

1. Rupture of the plaque
2. Stretching of the arterial wall

A long, flexible catheter is introduced into the artery most probably femoral artery and passed to the part of narrowing. Here the balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated and the narrowing is removed. In cases of excessive inflation, there is a chance of arterial rupture. Most persons who have undergone this therapy improve symptomatically but the long term prospects are not so good. There is the occurrence of the condition at the site of narrowing. This is called Stenosis. The end result is an occlusive lesion with restenosis. Hence persons opting for this treatment are advised to keep this in mind and plan accordingly. A proper diet and exercise regimen is necessary to prevent the recurrence of the problem.

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