Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA, or balloon angioplasty) is performed in the cardiac cath lab. PTCA brings blood flow to a healthy level by opening arteries closed by fatty plaque. This occurs in the following steps: An expandable balloon catheter is placed into a narrow coronary artery. The balloon is inflated, compressing plaque against the […]
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Transesophageal Echo (TEE)
A healthcare provider may order a transesophageal echocardiogram, or TEE, in response to poor echo images or before heart surgery. The transducer is placed directly behind the heart, enabling it to obtain high-quality images of all sides of the heart.