Coronary Intervention
What is coronary intervention?
Coronary intervention procedures treat conditions associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). At MaineHealth, patients with CAD are treated by interdisciplinary teams of interventional cardiologists, radiologists, and specially trained nurses and technicians who work collaboratively to improve arterial blood flow and patient outcomes.
Coronary Intervention Procedures
Angioplasty is a procedure to open a blocked blood vessel. During an angioplasty procedure, a thin, flexible tube (called a catheter) with a deflated balloon at its tip is threaded through a blood vessel to the blocked artery. Once in place, the balloon is inflated to push the plaque against the artery wall, widening the artery and restoring blood flow to the heart.
Each year, over 1,400 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are performed by MaineHealth specialists. We aim to reduce risk of complications, with more than half of all PCIs performed using the radial artery (wrist) as opposed to the femoral artery (groin) for access. Use of radial access is associated with quicker recovery time, less discomfort for the patient, and less bleeding
complications post-procedure.
High Risk PCI
The team also performs high-risk PCIs including left main artery stenosis in patients at increased risk for surgery, and on those vessels that have a chronic total occlusion (CTO).MaineHealth Cardiovascular Programs:
Aortic Disease Program
Carotid Revascularization Program
Comprehensive Vein Program
Limb Salvage Program
Rare Vascular Conditions Program
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Program
Advanced Heart Failure Program
Cardiac Valve Program
Coronary Revascularization Program