What is catheter (PTCA) treatment?

Asahi Intecc

Catheter treatment (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or PTCA, treatment) is one of the methods of treatment for diseases such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarctions that are caused by the heart’s blood vessels (coronary arteries) becoming clogged or narrowed by cholesterol.

Previously it was common to treat such diseases with medication or, if symptoms were heavy, with coronary artery bypass grafting, major surgery with thoracotomy. In recent years, catheter treatment (PTCA treatment), where narrow tubes called catheters are inserted from the wrist or from the base of the foot to widen narrowed blood vessels, has been making notable progress.

Since the treatment doesn’t require thoracotomy, there is little pain for patients (minimally invasive) and the economic burden is lighter such as due to the shortened length of hospital stay which allows early social rehabilitation, and it has now become the main method of treatment for coronary artery diseases.

1. Passing through of PTCA guide wire The flow of blood is inhibited in coronary arteries that have become narrowed or clogged as a result of deposited cholesterol, etc. A narrow wire with a diameter of 0.35 mm called a PTCA guide wire is passed through this area.	[Image courtesy of Asahi Intecc]
2. Insertion of PTCA balloon catheter The PTCA balloon catheter travels along the PTCA guide Wire to the part of the blood vessel that has become narrowed.	[Image courtesy of Asahi Intecc]
3. Inflation of PTCA balloon catheter The PTCA balloon catheter is inflated inside the narrowed part of the blood vessel to open up the blood vessel from the inside.	[Image courtesy of Asahi Intecc]
4. Withdrawal of PTCA balloon catheter The passageway of blood is reestablished with the opening up of the narrowed blood vessel and blood flow recovers	[Image courtesy of Asahi Intecc]

Asahi Intecc (Nagoya, Japan) is a medical device company with a portfolio including devices for catheter treatment, primarily the guidewires which are the fruits of its original technologies.