A subspeciality of cardiology concerned with the treatment of heart conditions using cardiac catherization techniques under local anaesthetic and X-ray control, including percutaneous coronary intervention and percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty
Procedures of this type may be used to stretch open a narrow valve or blood vessel, using a catheter with an inflatable balloon (Illustration). Alternatively, a tiny ‘spring coil’ may be inserted to block off an abnormal and unwanted blood vessel (Illustration), or an expanding plug (usually referred to as a ‘device’) may be placed … Read more
Positive inotropes: Any medicine that increases the strength of the heart’s contraction. Negative inotropes: Any medicine that decreases the strength of the heart’s contraction and the blood pressure in the vessels.