Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure used to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries and restore blood flow to the heart muscle. Performed through a peripheral artery, it typically combines balloon angioplasty with placement of a stent to scaffold the vessel a…
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure used to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries and restore blood flow to the heart muscle. Performed through a peripheral artery, it typically combines balloon angioplasty with placement of a stent to scaffold the vessel and maintain patency, and it is a cornerstone treatment for ischemic heart disease and acute coronary syndromes. PCI addresses obstructive lesions of the coronary tree, including technically demanding targets such as the left main coronary artery, chronic total occlusions, and complex bifurcation or quadrifurcation lesions that require advanced wiring and stenting strategies. Outcomes depend on lesion characteristics, the extent of single- versus multivessel disease, and patient factors such as advanced age and comorbidity, which influence procedural risk and long-term benefit. As an alternative or complement to coronary artery bypass surgery, PCI offers shorter recovery but carries its own complications, including restenosis, stent thrombosis, and, rarely, infection of an implanted stent. Periprocedural assessment uses angiography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography to define coronary anatomy and ventricular function. Continued refinement of stent technology, antiplatelet therapy, and imaging has expanded the range of treatable lesions. Studying PCI integrates interventional cardiology, vascular biology, and clinical outcomes research to optimize revascularization in coronary artery disease.
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