percutaneous coronary intervention
Also written as: PCI — Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
A minimally invasive procedure to open blocked coronary arteries using a catheter inserted through the skin.
Full Definition
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a non-surgical procedure used to treat stenotic coronary arteries. The procedure involves threading a catheter through a blood vessel to the heart and using techniques such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement to restore blood flow. PCI is the preferred treatment for many patients with acute coronary syndromes and stable ischemic heart disease. The term has largely replaced the older 'percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty' (PTCA) in modern clinical practice.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize when used as acronym PCI; use lowercase when spelled out unless at beginning of sentence.
In Context
- "The patient underwent urgent percutaneous coronary intervention following presentation with ST-elevation myocardial infarction." — Clinical case report
- "Percutaneous coronary intervention remains the gold standard for primary reperfusion therapy in STEMI patients." — Research paper