Interventional cardiology treatments such as percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary angioplasty without stent are interventions often used to manage heart diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, or situations with a high risk of these conditions.
Interventional cardiology is a subspecialised area of cardiology focused on minimally invasive treatments for various heart conditions. These procedures avoid the risks associated with open heart surgery and incisions by using catheters, narrow tubes that can be passed through a blood vessel via the wrist or groin, to facilitate the procedure. Such catheter-based, or transcatheter, methods are associated with shorter recovery times, minimal or no scarring, and lower risks of complications.
Our interventional subspecialists at Harbourside Cardiology are highly experienced with performing complex life-saving cardiac procedures, including percutaneous coronary intervention. We also have close relationships with clinicians who perform more specialised structural interventions such as valvuloplasty, valve implantation/replacement, and more.
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), previously known as a coronary angioplasty with stent insertion, is a treatment to restore adequate blood flow through the coronary arteries supplying oxygen and vital nutrients to your heart muscle. Over time, the walls of these coronary arteries may stiffen or the space through them may narrow due to accumulation of cholesterol and other debris, leading to coronary artery disease. This is associated with increased risks of heart attack, heart failure, cardiac arrest, and other complications.
Percutaneous coronary intervention is used as a blocked artery treatment in both emergency and chronic situations, including for individuals with:
A PCI is performed in a specialised hospital theatre known as a cardiac catheterisation lab under sedation. Though you are awake, you will not feel the catheter moving through your blood vessels. Through this catheter, a tiny deflated balloon is moved to each site of the coronary arteries that has been identified as narrow, and the balloon temporarily inflated to stretch the walls of the vessel. During the PCI procedure, a stent made of wire and mesh is inserted into the treated section of artery as a form of permanent scaffolding to ensure it does not close again.
A coronary angioplasty may be performed without the coronary stent procedure. Similar to PCI, coronary angioplasty is primarily a form of blocked artery treatment for the arteries supplying the heart muscle. In these situations, the treatment relies on the expansion of the balloon to dilate the artery and restore blood flow.
In most situations of coronary artery narrowing or blockage, percutaneous coronary intervention with stent placement is preferred. However, interventional cardiology is never a one-size-fits-all, and the unique circumstances of each individual must be considered.
Coronary artery disease managed with an angioplasty without a stent may be most appropriate for people with:
If planning for a stent-free angioplasty, your cardiologist may use a drug-coated balloon, which delivers medication to help stabilise the widened vessel walls and keep them open.
At Harbourside Cardiology, our team is dedicated to providing holistic, patient-centred care that aligns with the most recent clinical guidelines and research. We are with you every step of your health journey, providing continuity of care of all heart conditions from initial assessment through to treatment and recovery.
