What are the roles of medical balloon catheters in the treatment of coronary artery disease?

1. Overview of coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease, as one of the main types of heart disease, seriously threatens human health and life. It is characterized by stenosis or blockage of the coronary artery, the key blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart. This stenosis or blockage is usually caused by the formation and accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. As the plaques gradually increase, the lumen of the coronary artery becomes narrower and narrower, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the heart, which can cause symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, and dyspnea, and in severe cases may even lead to myocardial infarction or sudden death.

2. Mechanism of action of medical balloon catheters
As a precision medical device, the medical balloon catheter is designed to solve the problem of coronary artery stenosis or blockage. It consists of a thin and flexible catheter and an inflatable balloon at the end of the catheter. This catheter is usually made of materials with good biocompatibility to ensure that it is safe and effective when used in the human body. The balloon is made of high-strength and high-elasticity materials that can expand rapidly when inflated and quickly return to its original state after deflation.

In coronary angioplasty, the mechanism of action of medical balloon catheters is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Precise positioning: The doctor accurately inserts the balloon catheter into the narrowed or blocked coronary artery under the guidance of imaging equipment (such as X-ray machines, ultrasound equipment or CT scanners). This process requires doctors to have superb operating skills and rich clinical experience to ensure that the catheter can reach the lesion safely and accurately.
Inflation and pushing away plaque: Once the balloon catheter reaches the predetermined position, the doctor will inject liquid (such as saline) or gas (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide) into the balloon through the catheter to gradually expand the balloon. As the balloon expands, it will apply pressure to the surrounding coronary artery wall, thereby pushing away the plaque in the narrowed or blocked part. This process not only restores the lumen diameter of the coronary artery, but also improves blood flow.
Restoring blood flow: When the balloon expands to a large enough size, it presses the plaque against the vessel wall, thereby expanding the vessel cavity and restoring normal blood flow. This process usually only takes a few minutes to complete, but its therapeutic effect on patients is significant.
Prevention of restenosis: In some cases, doctors may place a stent immediately or later after balloon dilation to support the dilated coronary artery to prevent it from narrowing or occluding again. As an auxiliary tool for stent placement, the medical balloon catheter provides strong support for the accurate positioning and fixation of the stent.
3. Operation process of medical balloon catheter
The operation process of medical balloon catheter in coronary angioplasty usually includes the following steps:

Preoperative preparation: The doctor will conduct a comprehensive physical examination of the patient to assess his heart function, coronary artery lesions and surgical risks. At the same time, the patient also needs to undergo a series of blood tests, electrocardiograms, etc. to ensure the safety of the operation.
Anesthesia and disinfection: Before the operation begins, the doctor will perform local anesthesia on the patient and disinfect the surgical site to reduce the risk of infection.
Catheter insertion: The doctor inserts the balloon catheter into the body through the vascular puncture point such as the femoral artery or radial artery, and sends it to the narrowed or blocked coronary artery under the guidance of the imaging device.
Balloon expansion: When the catheter reaches the predetermined position, the doctor will inject liquid or gas into the balloon through the catheter to gradually expand it. During this process, the doctor will pay close attention to the patient's vital signs and electrocardiogram changes to ensure the safety of the operation.
Balloon deflation and withdrawal: When the balloon is inflated to a large enough size, the doctor will quickly extract the liquid or gas in the balloon to deflate the balloon. Afterwards, the doctor will carefully withdraw the balloon catheter from the body, leaving the dilated coronary artery for blood to pass smoothly.
Postoperative care: After the operation, the patient needs to rest in bed and observe for a period of time under the guidance of the doctor. The doctor will monitor the patient's vital signs and give necessary drug treatment and nursing guidance.
IV. Clinical benefits of medical balloon catheters
The application of medical balloon catheters in the treatment of coronary artery disease not only provides patients with a safe and effective treatment method, but also brings significant clinical benefits:

Symptom relief: By dilating narrowed or blocked coronary arteries with balloons, patients' chest pain, palpitations and other symptoms can be quickly relieved, improving the quality of life of patients.
Reduce risk: Restoring normal blood flow in the coronary arteries can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and sudden death, and prolong the patient's life.
Reduce trauma: Compared with traditional open-chest surgery, coronary angioplasty has the advantages of less trauma and faster recovery, which can reduce the patient's pain and burden.
Improve survival rate: For patients with critical illnesses such as acute myocardial infarction, timely coronary angioplasty can save the patient's life and improve the survival rate.