Percutaneous coronary intervention

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty, is a non-surgical procedure used to treat the stenotic (narrowed) coronary arteries of the heart found in coronary heart disease. These stenotic segments are due to the buildup of cholesterol-laden plaques that form due to atherosclerosis. PCI is usually performed by an interventional cardiologist.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

The procedure involves the insertion of a sheath into the femoral or radial artery. A catheter is passed through the sheath and is moved under fluoroscopic guidance to the heart. The cardiologist can then visualize the blocked artery using angiography. A balloon catheter is then passed over the wire into the stenosis and inflated to relieve the narrowing; certain devices such as stents can be deployed to keep the blood vessel open.

Indications[edit | edit source]

PCI is used to treat a variety of conditions related to coronary artery disease, including:

Risks[edit | edit source]

Like all medical procedures, PCI carries some risk. These can include:

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


External links[edit | edit source]

Percutaneous coronary intervention Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD