Last Modified: 3:48pm 14/08/2023

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

The Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) service was introduced at MKUH in February 2023 and aims to treat patients who have been diagnosed with a narrowed artery.

The service is located adjacent to the cardiology department, in the blue zone of the hospital.

The service operates from the hospital’s Cardiac Catheter lab, with the majority of patients being treated and discharged the same day.

The clinical lead for the service is Dr Cliona Kenny (Consultant Cardiologist).

Primary Coronary Intervention (PCI) – how it works:

A catheter with a small balloon at the end is inserted through an artery in the groin or arm. The balloon is directed to the blockage using X-ray guidance. Next, the balloon is inflated so that it pushes the fatty tissue in the narrow artery out of the way in order to improve the blood supply in the heart.

A stent is placed inside the catheter – this is a small tube of stainless steel mesh which expands as the balloon is inflated and allows the narrowed blood vessel to be enlarged and held in place. The balloon is then deflated and removed, leaving the stent in place. This is often called coronary stenting.

After the procedure:

It is common for a patient to experience some bruising or swelling where the catheter was inserted. Recovery time is often quick with some people going home on the same day or the day after the procedure. However, if you have had an emergency coronary angioplasty for a heart attack, you may need to stay in hospital for a longer period.