A Bare Metal Stent is a small metal mesh tube placed inside a narrowed artery to help keep it open. It is a device used in interventional cardiology, most commonly during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is typically used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) by improving blood flow in the coronary arteries. It is distinct from a drug-eluting stent (DES), which releases medication to reduce tissue regrowth.
A Drug Eluting Stent is a small expandable metal scaffold placed inside a narrowed artery. It slowly releases a medication to reduce tissue overgrowth that can re-narrow the vessel. It is a therapeutic cardiovascular device used during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is most commonly deployed in the coronary arteries to treat coronary artery disease (CAD).
A Coronary Stent is a small, expandable metal scaffold placed inside a coronary artery to help keep it open. It is a device used in interventional cardiology, typically during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is most commonly used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) caused by atherosclerotic plaque. It is deployed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance.
Balloon Angioplasty is a catheter-based procedure that uses an inflatable balloon to widen a narrowed or blocked blood vessel. It is a therapeutic intervention most commonly used in coronary arteries as part of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It can also be used in other vascular beds (for example, peripheral arteries) and in selected structural heart procedures. Its goal is to improve blood flow by reducing the severity of a stenosis (narrowing).
Angioplasty is a catheter-based procedure that widens a narrowed or blocked blood vessel using an inflatable balloon. It is a therapeutic intervention in cardiovascular and endovascular medicine, most commonly applied to the coronary arteries. In cardiology, Angioplasty is usually performed as part of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), often with stent placement. It is also used in selected non-coronary vessels in peripheral artery disease (PAD) and other vascular conditions.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention is a catheter-based procedure used to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. It is a therapy (interventional cardiology) performed inside the coronary circulation to improve blood flow to the myocardium. It is commonly used in acute coronary syndromes and in selected patients with stable coronary artery disease. It is typically performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory using fluoroscopic guidance and coronary angiography.
Optical Coherence Tomography is an intravascular imaging technique that uses light to create high-detail cross-sectional images of blood vessels. In cardiology, it is most commonly used inside the coronary arteries during cardiac catheterization. It is a diagnostic tool that helps assess coronary artery disease and guide percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), including stent placement. It is also used to evaluate vessel-wall pathology that may not be clear on coronary angiography alone.
Intravascular Ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses ultrasound from inside a blood vessel. It is a diagnostic tool used mainly in interventional cardiology and vascular medicine. It produces cross-sectional images of the vessel wall and lumen (the channel where blood flows). It is commonly used during coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Fractional Flow Reserve is a physiologic measurement used to assess whether a coronary artery narrowing is limiting blood flow. It is a diagnostic concept applied during invasive coronary angiography and cardiac catheterization. It helps connect coronary anatomy (stenosis) with myocardial ischemia (impaired oxygen delivery). It is commonly used to guide decisions about percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) such as stenting.
Left Heart Catheterization is an invasive cardiac procedure that places a catheter into the arterial system to evaluate the left side of the heart. It is most commonly used to assess coronary arteries, left ventricular (LV) function, and left-sided pressures. It sits in the domain of diagnostic cardiology and interventional cardiology, often alongside coronary angiography. It is frequently performed in chest pain evaluation, acute coronary syndromes, and preoperative cardiac assessment.