Physiological Adaptation Q 66
Medical treatment of coronary artery disease includes which of the following procedures?
A. Cardiac catheterization
B. Coronary artery bypass surgery
C. Oral medication administration
D. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
Correct Answer: C. Oral medication administration
Oral medication administration is a noninvasive, medical treatment for coronary artery disease. Nitroglycerin is the most common vasodilator used for acute cases of angina. It works to dilate or widen the coronary arteries, increasing blood flow to the heart muscle and to relax the veins, lessening the amount of blood that returns to the heart from the body. This combination of effects decreases the amount of work for the heart.
Option A: Cardiac catheterization isn’t a treatment but a diagnostic tool. Cardiac catheterization (cardiac cath or heart cath) is a procedure to examine how well the heart is working. A thin, hollow tube called a catheter is inserted into a large blood vessel that leads to the heart.
Option B: Coronary artery bypass surgery is an invasive procedure. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a procedure to improve poor blood flow to the heart. It may be needed when the arteries supplying blood to heart tissue, called coronary arteries, are narrowed or blocked. This surgery may lower the risk of serious complications for people who have obstructive coronary artery disease, a type of ischemic heart disease. CABG may also be used in an emergency, such as a severe heart attack.
Option D: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is an invasive, surgical treatment. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a minimally invasive procedure to open up blocked coronary arteries, allowing blood to circulate unobstructed to the heart muscle.