Percutaneous coronary intervention overview

Percutaneous coronary intervention Microchapters
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Patient Information
Overview
Risk Stratification and Benefits of PCI
Preparation of the Patient for PCI
Equipment Used During PCI
Pharmacotherapy to Support PCI
Vascular Closure Devices
Recommendations for Perioperative Management–Timing of Elective Noncardiac Surgery in Patients Treated With PCI and DAPT
Post-PCI Management
Risk Reduction After PCI
Post-PCI follow up
Hybrid coronary revascularization
PCI approaches
PCI Complications
Factors Associated with Complications Vessel Perforation Dissection Distal Embolization No-reflow Coronary Vasospasm Abrupt Closure Access Site Complications Peri-procedure Bleeding Restenosis Renal Failure Thrombocytopenia Late Acquired Stent Malapposition Loss of Side Branch Multiple Complications
PCI in Specific Patients
Cardiogenic Shock Left Main Coronary Artery Disease Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmia Severely Depressed Ventricular Function Sole Remaining Conduit Unprotected Left Main Patient Adjuncts for High Risk PCI
PCI in Specific Lesion Types
Classification of the Lesion The Calcified Lesion The Ostial Lesion The Angulated or Tortuous Lesion The Bifurcation Lesion The Long Lesion The Bridge Lesion Vasospasm The Chronic Total Occlusion The Left Internal Mammary Artery Multivessel Disease Distal Anastomotic Lesions Left Main Intervention The Thrombotic Lesion
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as coronary angioplasty, is an invasive cardiologic therapeutic procedure to treat the stenotic (narrowed) coronary arteries of the heart. These stenotic segments are due to the build up of cholesterol-laden plaques that form due to artherosclerosis in coronary heart disease. PCI is usually performed by an interventional cardiologist. Percutaneous coronary intervention can be performed to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of coronary artery disease, including angina (chest pain), dyspnea (shortness of breath) on exertion, and congestive heart failure. PCI is also used to abort an acute myocardial infarction, and in some specific cases it may reduce mortality.

A coronary angiogram that shows the left coronary circulation.

The distal left main coronary artery (LMCA) is in the left upper quadrant of the image. Its main branches (also visible) are the left circumflex artery (LCX), which courses top-to-bottom initially and then toward the centre-bottom, and the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, which courses from left-to-right on the image and then courses down the middle of the image to project underneath of the distal LCX. The LAD, as is usual, has two large diagonal branches, which arise at the centre-top of the image and course toward the centre-right of the image.