abstract |
In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for improving angioplasty procedures by reducing tissue damage during the procedure comprising infusing certain ethylene oxide-propylene oxide condensation surface-active copolymers before, during and/or after the angioplasty procedure. The surface-active copolymer can be an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide condensation product with the following general formula: HO(C2H4O)b(C3H6O)a(C2H4O)bH wherein a is an integer such that the hydrophobe represented by (C3H6O) has a molecular weight of approximately 950 to 4000, preferably approximately 1200 to 3500, and b is an integer such that the hydrophile portion represented by (C2H4O) constitutes approximately 50% to 90% by weight of the copolymer. |