Effect of balloon material and inflation strategy on arterial trauma and mechanisms of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty as determined by intracoronary ultrasound

Twenty-three patients were randomized to a minimally invasive strategy or t o standard percutaneous tranluminal coronary angioplasty followed by intrac oronary ultrasound. There was no difference in intracoronary ultrasound-det ermined dissection after the procedure in the 2 groups, and the mechanism o f lumen enlargement by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in bo th groups predominantly was due to vessel stretch.