{"id":6419,"date":"2026-04-22T13:10:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T11:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gr.digital2cloud.eu\/doctor\/?page_id=6419"},"modified":"2026-04-24T11:53:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T09:53:59","slug":"diadermiki-stefaniaia-paremvasi-pci","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kolyviras.gr\/en\/diadermiki-stefaniaia-paremvasi-pci\/","title":{"rendered":"Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Angioplasty & Stent<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The coronary arteries are the vessels that supply the heart muscle with oxygen. When atherosclerotic plaques narrow or block them, the heart receives less blood and the consequences can range from chest pain to a full-blown heart attack. Until recently, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was often the only option. Today, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) restores blood flow without opening the chest, in a matter of minutes, under local anaesthesia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is coronary artery disease?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Coronary artery disease develops gradually as fatty deposits and calcium accumulate within the arterial wall, forming atherosclerotic plaques. The vessel's opening narrows, blood flow is restricted, and the heart muscle no longer receives enough oxygen.<\/p>

The most common symptoms include:<\/p>

  • Chest pain or tightness (angina)<\/strong>, typically triggered by physical exertion<\/li>
  • Shortness of breath<\/strong> during activity or at rest<\/li>
  • A sense of pressure or heaviness<\/strong> in the left shoulder blade or jaw<\/li>
  • Unexplained<\/strong> fatigue and dizziness<\/li>
  • In the most severe form: acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    What is PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention)?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) is a minimally invasive procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries using a thin, flexible catheter, with no incision in the chest and no need for cardiopulmonary bypass. The goal is straightforward: to restore normal blood flow to the heart muscle.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    How is the procedure performed step by step?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    • Access:<\/strong> The interventional cardiologist introduces a thin catheter, usually through the radial artery at the wrist (radial approach) or the femoral artery at the groin<\/li>
    • Guidance:<\/strong> Using fluoroscopy and contrast dye, the catheter is navigated precisely to the affected coronary artery<\/li>
    • Dilation:<\/strong> A small balloon is inflated at the site of the blockage, compressing the atherosclerotic plaque against the vessel wall<\/li>
    • Stenting:<\/strong>:<\/strong> In the vast majority of cases, a stent, a metal mesh scaffold, is deployed simultaneously to support the artery and keep it open<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Types of stent: what we choose and why<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Stent selection is based on the anatomy of the lesion, the presence of diabetes, and other clinical factors. The two main options today are:<\/p>