Balloon catheters and transluminal dilatation: technical considerations

Knowledge of the physical principles of balloon dilatation is essential to the safe and efficacious implementation of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Choosing the correct size syringe and the correct size for the lesion, using and monitoring the appropriate pressure, and knowing when to stop influence the success of the procedure. Differences in the characteristics of different balloon materials not only result in a difference in feel to the user (pressure-volume relationship), but in a significantly greater dilating force being applied to the lesion at the same pressure. Further studies are required to determine optimum inflation techniques, appropriate balloon size for a specific lesion, and possibly to characterize lesions before and during dilatation.