Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

What is a percutaneous coronary intervention?

A percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked coronary (heart) arteries. An older name for PCI is coronary angioplasty with stenting or angioplasty for short.

Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart throughout your body. A PCI procedure uses a small balloon to reopen a blocked artery to increase blood flow.

Usually, your interventional cardiologist then places a small, permanent tube (stent) to keep the artery open long term. The stent usually contains medication that releases directly into your artery (drug-eluting stent) to reduce the risk of re-narrowing within the stent.

Who needs to have a percutaneous coronary intervention?

You may need a PCI procedure to remove buildups of a thick, fatty substance called plaque from your arteries. Plaque that builds up and hardens in your arteries is atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and blocks blood flow through your heart. Your heart doesn’t pump blood efficiently, and you may have chest pain (angina).

Healthcare providers may also use PCI as a heart attack treatment. PCI quickly opens blood vessels, which can help minimize heart damage.

Who should not have a percutaneous coronary intervention?

You and your healthcare provider will discuss which treatment is best for you. Whether you have PCI, medical therapy or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery depends on several factors that include:

• The number and characteristics of the blockages that you have.
• Other cardiac and non-cardiac medical conditions.
• Your heart muscle function and age.

What happens before a percutaneous coronary intervention?

Your healthcare provider gives you specific instructions to prepare for a PCI. In a non-emergency situation, you will likely need to not eat or drink (fast) for several hours before the surgery.

If you take blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants), you may need to stop taking them temporarily. These medicines can increase your bleeding risks during a procedure. Be sure to follow your provider’s instructions.

What happens during a percutaneous coronary intervention?

An interventional cardiologist (doctor specializing in the heart, blood vessels and circulatory system) performs the PCI. You receive a sedative (anesthesia) to help you remain calm and relaxed. You are usually awake but can’t feel anything during the procedure.

During a PCI, your cardiologist:

1. Inserts a small hollow tube (sheath) through a blood vessel in your arm or at the top of your thigh.
2. Guides a small, hollow tube (catheter) through the sheath and to your heart.
3. Injects a contrast dye and uses X-rays to view the catheter in real time.
4. Opens the blocked artery by inflating a balloon at the tip of the catheter.
5. Places a stent, if needed, to help the artery stay open.
6. Removes the catheter and closes the insertion site with a compression bandage (arm), a small stitch (thigh) or collagen plug (thigh).

The procedure usually lasts between 30 minutes and two hours. The exact treatment time depends on several factors, including the extent of plaque buildup.

What happens after a percutaneous coronary intervention?

Usually, you stay in a recovery area for several hours after a PCI. You may have bruising or soreness where the doctor inserted the catheter. You might return home that day or stay in the hospital overnight.

What are the advantages of a percutaneous coronary intervention?

A PCI improves blood flow in your heart. It can reduce the symptoms of a blocked artery, such as:

• Chest pain.
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea).

What are the risks or complications of a percutaneous coronary intervention?

All heart treatments have some risks. Risks of a PCI procedure may include:

• Bleeding or infection at the catheter insertion site.
• Blood clots in the heart stent.
• Re-narrowing in the artery.
• Stroke.

Percutaneous coronary intervention is generally a safe procedure with a low risk of complications. When providers perform a PCI using a drug-eluting stent, the likelihood that the artery will close again is less than 5%.

What is the recovery time after percutaneous coronary intervention?

Usually, you can resume usual activities within a week after a PCI. If you have a job that requires physical activity or heavy lifting, you may need to wait longer to return to work.

During recovery from a PCI, your cardiologist may prescribe blood-thinning medicines. These drugs, such as clopidogrel (Plavix®), prasugrel (Effient®), or ticagrelor (Brilinta®), lower your risk of blood clots. You should take these medications according to the recommendations of your healthcare provider.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

After a PCI, call your healthcare provider right away if you have:

• Bleeding or discharge at the catheter insertion site.
• Chest pain (angina).
• Chills or a fever.
• Coolness or numbness where the doctor inserted the catheter.
• Dizziness or fainting (syncope).
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
• Swelling or pain that doesn’t go away.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Percutaneous coronary intervention is a heart treatment to open blocked blood vessels. You may need a PCI to remove plaque buildup in your arteries. Healthcare providers also use PCIs as an emergency heart attack treatment. PCI procedures are minimally invasive treatments. They often have shorter recovery times and a lower risk of complications than heart surgery. After a PCI, you should adopt healthy lifestyle habits to lower the chances that arteries will close again.