Complex coronary artery
disease often involves treatment
of more than one blood vessel
of the heart.
One of the challenges
of treating complex coronary
artery disease is that the
procedures are higher risk
and require specialized
physicians.
Understanding Heart Disease:
Heart disease, also called coronary artery disease, is a chronic condition in which the arteries that supply blood to your heart become narrowed or blocked due to a buildup of fatty material, called plaque, within the walls of the arteries.
If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow and can cause a heart attack.
What is Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)?
Patients with coronary artery disease may undergo a procedure called PCI, commonly known as angioplasty or stenting. During this non-surgical procedure, an interventional cardiologist will inflate a small balloon in the narrowed portion of the artery to re-open it and restore normal blood flow. The doctor may also place a small metal scaffold, called a stent, to keep the artery open. For some patients, stenting might not be an option. These patients will be referred for heart surgery.
For some patients, their doctors may determine their heart disease is too severe for stenting and too high-risk for surgery. For these patients, Protected PCI, or protected stenting, may be an option.
Protected PCI is a widely accepted procedure using Impella, the world’s smallest heart pump, to temporarily assist the pumping function of the heart. The Impella heart pump helps maintain blood flow blood to critical organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys during a stenting procedure. Protected stenting with Impella provides an option for patients who are at high-risk for surgical complications and those with severe heart disease.
