Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a treatment for persons experiencing myocardial
ischemia (inadequate blood flow to the heart) or myocardial infarction (heart attack). The goal of PCI is to open up
a coronary artery (blood vessel that brings blood
and oxygen to the heart muscle) and restore blood flow. Primary PCI is an
emergency treatment performed to reduce the amount of heart muscle permanently
damaged by a heart attack. Primary PCI reduces the mortality (death) rate from heart attack. The February 11, 2004, issue of JAMA includes an article about the use of PCI to treat
heart attacks.
Percutaneous coronary intervention requires the use of the cardiac catheterization
suite with special equipment, x-ray capability, and trained personnel. Usually
access to the heart and major blood vessels is obtained through the femoral artery in the groin area. The artery is punctured
through the skin with a special needle. Under x-ray guidance, a catheter is
threaded through the femoral artery up into the aorta (large
artery from the heart) and then gently advanced into the affected coronary
artery. There, a balloon is used to open the coronary artery (balloon angioplasty) and restore blood flow. Sometimes a stent (a mesh-like metal tube that holds open the artery) is placed
at that time to maintain good blood flow through the damaged area.Percutaneous
coronary intervention is not the right treatment for everyone. Your individual
treatment options should be discussed with your doctor.