During which angiographic procedure is a balloon inflated under controlled pressure?

• A. Peripheral angiography
• B. Coronary angiography
• C. Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
• D. Abdominal angiography

Answer: (C)

The correct answer relates to Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA), a procedure specifically designed to treat narrowed or obstructed arteries. During PTA, a catheter with a deflated balloon at its tip is advanced to the site of the blockage. Once properly positioned, the balloon is inflated under controlled pressure, which expands the lumen of the artery and restores adequate blood flow. This inflation compresses the plaque against the arterial wall, effectively widening the artery.

In contrast, while peripheral and coronary angiography are critical imaging techniques to visualize blood vessels using contrast agents, they do not involve the inflation of a balloon under pressure. Instead, these procedures focus on diagnosing conditions rather than treating them. Abdominal angiography serves a similar diagnostic purpose, allowing visualization of abdominal blood vessels, but does not incorporate the therapeutic aspect of balloon inflation used in angioplasty.