Myocardial Infarction Quality Measures
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is
performed to open blocked coronary arteries caused by coronary artery disease
(CAD) and to restore arterial blood flow to the heart tissue without open-heart
surgery. The term percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a more general
term that includes additional artery opening procedures and devices.
Certain patients will benefit from rapid reperfusion (re-entry
of blood into area where flow has been reduced) through the use of percutaneous
transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). PTCA is a procedure that uses a balloon
tipped catheter-tube, which is inserted into a leg artery and then advanced
to the heart in order to open blocked arteries that cause heart attacks. According
to The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American
Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines
for The Management of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction, PTCA
may be used as an alternative to thrombolytic therapy (medication that disrupts
blood clot formation) in patients where this medication is contraindicated.
PTCA may also be used in addition to thrombolytic therapy.