PCI – Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

As part of the diagnostic cardiac catheterization, there is an opportunity to restore the heart's blood supply and alleviate symptoms such as angina pectoris. Key techniques include balloon angioplasty, where a small balloon is inflated in the narrowed artery to widen the passage. Often, a stent is also implanted — a small metal mesh tube that keeps the artery permanently open and reduces the risk of re-occlusion.

Newer technologies, such as drug-coated stents, so-called 'drug-eluting stents', and bioresorbable stents can improve long-term outcomes. In more complex cases, such as chronic total occlusions or multivessel disease, PCI also enables effective treatment approaches through specialized devices and techniques. It offers a less invasive alternative to bypass surgery and is characterized by shorter recovery times.