Patient: Peripheral Vascular Disease: Medical Terminology
Angioplasty: A procedure using a balloon on the end of a catheter to open a blockage in an artery. Often referred to as Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA).
Anti-Platelet Therapy: Medications prescribed to decrease the action of platelets. Platelets are responsible for the formation of a clot that could cause further problems.
Beta Radiation: A low penetrating form of radiation that requires minimum shielding for the patient, physician and staff. The use of beta radiation allows the staff to stay in the room while the patient is undergoing radiation treatment.
Catheter: A thin, elongated plastic tube inserted into the body to provide access for diagnosis or treatment.
Claudication: The most common symptom of peripheral vascular disease, characterized by cramping in the leg or hip, especially when walking.
In-stent Restenosis: The accumulation of scar tissue within a previously implanted stent that decreases blood flow and causes re-narrowing of the artery.
Late Loss Index: The difference in the luminal diameter of the artery at a follow up interval compared to the diameter immediately post angioplasty. A low late loss index indicates that most of the increase in diameter achieved by angioplasty is still present when measured at a later date.
Lesion: The area of blockage or narrowing in a blood vessel. Also known as stenosis, it is often caused by plaque or scar tissue formation.
Lumen: The interior passageway of a blood vessel or catheter where fluid flows.
Peripheral Arteries: The blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood from the heart to the arms and legs.
Restenosis: Re-narrowing of an artery that was previously treated.
Restenosis Rate: The percentage of patients that have re-narrowing of an artery that was previously treated.
Stent: Small, wire mesh-like tubes that are permanently implanted into an artery to keep it open.
Target Lesion Revascularization (TLR): A statistic used to show the effectiveness of a treatment. It occurs when the area of the artery that was previously treated narrows and an additional procedure is required to keep it open.
Target Vessel Revascularization (TVR): A statistic used to show the effectiveness of a treatment. It occurs when an artery that was previously treated narrows and an additional procedure is required to keep it open.
Vascular Brachytherapy: Using radiation inside a blood vessel for the prevention or treatment of restenosis.