Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty or stenting, is a procedure used to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.

A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in your groin or wrist and guided to the coronary arteries using X-ray imaging. The catheter has a balloon at its tip. Once the catheter is in position, a contrast dye is injected through the catheter to visualize the narrowed or blocked artery on X-ray images. A small balloon at the tip of the catheter is then inflated at the site of the blockage. The pressure from the balloon compresses the plaque buildup, widening the artery and restoring blood flow. A small metal scaffold tube called a stent is placed in the treated artery to help keep it open. The stent is mounted on a deflated balloon and positioned at the site of the blockage. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands and presses against the artery wall, holding it open. The balloon is then deflated and removed, leaving the stent in place to support the artery. Other techniques may be used during the procedure including atherectomy, the removal of the blockage using a cutting device, or thrombectomy, the removal of a blood clot using a device that evacuates the clot. Often, this procedure requires an overnight stay in the hospital for observation.