Also termed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, this is an invasive treatment for a stenosed (narrowed) coronary artery (see ARTERIES). A balloon-tipped catheter (CATHETERS) is passed through an incision in the skin of the chest into the artery of the HEART that has developed stenosis. The balloon is aligned with the stenosed section and then inflated to dilate the coronary artery and allow the blood to flow more freely. A STENT may be left in place.