· What is PCI?

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI, formerly known as angioplasty with stent) is a non-surgical procedure that used primarily to open a blocked coronary artery and restore arterial blood flow to heart tissue, without requiring open-heart surgery. 

In patients with a restricted or blocked coronary artery, PCI may be the best option to re-establish blood flow as well as prevent angina (chest pain), myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and death. Today, PCI usually includes the insertion of stents, such as bare-metal stents, drug-eluting stents, and fully resorbable vascular scaffolds (or naturally dissolving stents). The use of stents has been shown to be important during the first three months after PCI; after that, the artery can remain open on its own.

· What is done?

 A catheter is inserted into the blood vessels either in the groin or in the arm.

 Using a special type of X-ray called fluoroscopy, the catheter is threaded through the blood vessels into the heart where the coronary artery is narrowed.

 When the tip is in place, a balloon tip covered with a stent is inflated.

 The balloon tip compresses the plaque and expands the stent.

 Once the plaque is compressed and the stent is in place, the balloon is deflated and withdrawn.

 The stent stays in the artery, holding it open.

According to the use, the products can be divided into coronary artery products and electrophysiological products. In PCI, the balloon dilation catheter is used to dilate the stenosis of the coronary artery to improve myocardial blood supply; The Inflation Device is used to inflate the balloon during the operation to expand or open the stent on the balloon; After the operation, the radial artery tourniquet is used to stop bleeding at the puncture site.

Electrophysiology products are mainly used in Cardiac electrophysiological examination, cardiac electrical signal mapping, or treatment of tachyarrhythmia.