Availability of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a term that includes several non-surgical cardiac procedures: angioplasty, stent placement, and arthrectomy. Opening blocked coronary arteries as quickly as possible is the main goal of emergency treatment for persons having a heart attack, and the ready availability of multiple strategies for opening blocked arteries increases patient treatment options.

Certain patients will benefit from rapid reperfusion (re-entry of blood into area where flow has been reduced) through the use of percutaneous coronary interventions such as angioplasty. Angioplasty is a procedure that uses a balloon tipped catheter-tube, which is inserted into a leg artery and then advanced to the heart in order to open blocked arteries that cause heart attacks. Other patients may benefit from coronary stent placement or arthrectomy. Not all patients need PCI to open blocked arteries, but for those who do, the goal is to do it in a timely manner. (American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association 2001 Guidelines for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention )

According to The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for The Management of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction, angioplasty may be used as an alternative to thrombolytic therapy (medication that disrupts blood clot formation) in patients where this medication is contraindicated. Angioplasty may also be used in addition to thrombolytic therapy (medication that disrupts blood clot formation). 

At Bloomington Hospital, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.