Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a procedure used to treat narrowing of the coronary arteries of the heart found in coronary artery disease. The process involves combining coronary angioplasty with stenting, which is the insertion of a permanent wire-meshed tube that is either drug eluting (DES) or composed of bare metal (BMS). The stent delivery balloon from the angioplasty catheter is inflated with media to force contact between the struts of the stent and the vessel wall (stent apposition), thus widening the blood vessel diameter. After accessing the blood stream through the femoral or radial artery, the procedure uses coronary catheterization to visualise the blood vessels on X-ray imaging. After this, an interventional cardiologist can perform a coronary angioplasty, using a balloon catheter in which a deflated balloon is advanced into the obstructed artery and inflated to relieve the narrowing; certain devices such as stents can be deployed to keep the blood vessel open. Various other procedures can also be performed.

Who gets PCI?

PCI may be appropriate for patients with stable coronary artery disease if they meet certain criteria, such as having any coronary stenosis greater than 70 percent or having angina symptoms that are unresponsive to medical therapy.

What is the goal for providing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention PCI?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a non-surgical, invasive procedure with a goal to relieve the narrowing or occlusion of the coronary artery and improve blood supply to the ischemic tissue.

al procedure that uses a catheter (a thin flexible tube) to place a small structure called a stent to open up blood vessels in the heart that have been narrowed by plaque buildup, a condition known as atherosclerosis.

How long does a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention take?

Patients also may experience brief episodes of angina while the balloon is inflated, briefly blocking the flow of blood in the coronary artery. The percutaneous coronary intervention procedure can last from 30 minutes to two hours, but is usually completed within 60 minutes.

What makes a PCI High Risk?

High-risk PCI was defined as the presence of impaired LV function (ejection fraction <30%) and extensive multivessel coronary disease, critical left main stenosis, or a target vessel that provides collateral supply to an occluded second vessel that in turn supplies >40% of myocardium.

What is high risk percutaneous coronary intervention?

In summary, all proposed definitions of high risk PCI combine features related to three main clinical areas: 1) patient risk factors and comorbidities (incorporating those which preclude surgical or percutaneous revascularization such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, lung.

What should I do after PCI?

You may remove the bandage 1 day after your Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). You may shower 1 day after your PCI. Do Not sit upright for more than 1 hour at a time during the first day at home. If traveling for long periods, stretch your legs out and get up and walk every hour during the first day going home.