Angioplasties are a medical procedure that is used to open up blocked or narrowed blood vessels in the body. This procedure is commonly used to treat conditions such as coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and renal artery stenosis. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of angioplasties, as well as their origin, associations, synonyms, and antonyms.
Definitions
Angioplasties are a type of medical procedure that is used to open up blocked or narrowed blood vessels in the body. This procedure is typically performed by a cardiologist or interventional radiologist, using a small balloon catheter that is inserted into the blocked or narrowed blood vessel. The balloon is then inflated, which pushes the plaque or blockage against the walls of the blood vessel, opening it up and allowing blood to flow freely.
Origin
The first angioplasty procedure was performed in 1964 by Dr. Charles Dotter, a radiologist from Portland, Oregon. Dr. Dotter used a catheter with a small balloon on the end to open up a blocked artery in a patient’s leg. Since then, angioplasty has become a common and widely used procedure for treating a variety of conditions.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, angioplasty is defined as “the surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel, especially a coronary artery”. The Oxford English Dictionary defines angioplasty as “a surgical procedure in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and a balloon is inflated to widen the vessel and improve blood flow”.
Associations
Angioplasties are commonly associated with the treatment of coronary artery disease, which is a condition that occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. This can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. Angioplasty is also used to treat peripheral artery disease, which occurs when the arteries in the legs and arms become narrowed or blocked.
Synonyms
Synonyms for angioplasty include balloon angioplasty, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Antonyms
There are no specific antonyms for angioplasty, as it is a medical procedure rather than a concept.
The same root words
The root word of angioplasty is “angio-“, which refers to blood vessels. Other medical terms that use this root word include angiography (a diagnostic test that uses X-rays to visualize blood vessels) and angina (chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart).
Example Sentences
- After experiencing chest pain, John underwent an angioplasty to open up a blocked artery in his heart.
- Mary’s doctor recommended an angioplasty to treat her peripheral artery disease and improve blood flow to her legs.
- The interventional radiologist used a balloon catheter to perform a successful angioplasty on the patient’s renal artery.
- Due to the severity of his coronary artery disease, James underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery instead of an angioplasty.