PrISM Cardiovascular

The previous page showed a guide wire in place crossing the area of narrowing or stenosis in the circumflex coronary artery. The lower image showed a balloon inflated with contrast (to make it visible on the image) in the region of the stenosis. This procedure is called angioplasty, and can be used to dilate a narrowed area of a vessel anywhere in the body. Sometimes a wire stent is left in place to keep the narrowed area open.

This angiogram was obtained after removal of the wire and the balloon. The previous area of stenosis is no longer evident and the patient's symptoms had resolved.