Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure used to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. A thin flexible tube (catheter) is inserted through a small puncture, usually in the wrist (radial access) or groin (femoral access), and guided to the affected coronary artery under X-ray guidance. The most common form is balloon angioplasty combined with stent insertion, where a mesh tube is deployed to hold the artery open.
PCI is performed in a cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) by an interventional cardiologist. It is used to treat heart attack (where restoring blood flow urgently is lifesaving), stable angina that has not responded to medication, and significant coronary artery disease identified at coronary angiography. The procedure is also known as coronary angioplasty or PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty).
In the context of sudden cardiac arrest, emergency PCI is often performed after resuscitation if a blocked coronary artery is identified or suspected as the cause. Restoring coronary blood flow can limit ongoing heart muscle damage, improve ejection fraction, and reduce the risk of further arrhythmia. This forms part of the post-resuscitation care pathway alongside targeted temperature management and critical care support.
Recovery after elective PCI is usually rapid, with most patients discharged the same or next day. Emergency PCI after cardiac arrest requires a longer hospital stay in intensive care. Cardiac rehabilitation is recommended following PCI, particularly after a heart attack. Antiplatelet medication (such as aspirin and clopidogrel or ticagrelor) is prescribed for a period after stent insertion to reduce the risk of stent thrombosis.
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