Procedures

Dr Modi offers top-quality cardiac care, offering patients the following invasive procedures for the investigation and management of chest pain and breathlessness:

• Coronary Angiography
• Right and left Cardiac Catheterisation
• Pressure wire assessment of coronary arteries (FFR, iFR and RFR)
• Intravascular ultrasound assessment of coronary arteries (IVUS)
• Optical Coherence Tomography assessment of coronary arteries (OCT)
• Rotational Atherectomy (rotablation)
• Coronary Angioplasty and Stenting (also known as PCI)
• Coronary physiology assessment for Microvascular Disease and Microvascular Angina (CFR & IMR)

What is a Coronary Angiogram?

A coronary angiogram (also know as cardiac catheterisation) is a diagnostic procedure that is considered to be the best way to diagnose coronary artery disease.

The procedure involves inserting a short tube into a blood vessel (artery) in the arm or the groin under local anaesthetic. Using this, a longer and thinner tube (catheter) is inserted into the coronary arteries using x-ray guidance. Once the catheter is in place, a dye is injected which then highlights the coronary arteries and any narrowings or blockages.

The procedure takes 15 to 20 minutes to perform and is done under local anaesthetic with mild sedation, if required. Like many cardiac procedures, a coronary angiogram does have some risks. Major complications are however rare with coronary angiography.

What is a Coronary Angioplasty?

Coronary angioplasty or stenting is also sometimes known as Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and is a procedure done after a coronary angiogram (either straight after, during the same procedure, or sometime after a coronary angiogram).

The procedure aims to open blocked and narrowed coronary arteries. It involves inflating a balloon in the narrowed segment of the coronary artery and then deploying a small metallic mesh called a stent to keep the artery open. These stents are coated with a drug (drug eluting stents), which prevents excess tissue growth within the stent and gives them excellent long term results.

Like an angiogram, the stenting or PCI procedure is performed either via an artery in the wrist or the groin. The procedure on average takes anything from 30 to 90 minutes to perform, depending on complexity. Angioplasty procedures are common and serious complications are rare but recognised.

Dr Modi together with the team at Glenfield or Spire will review you an hour or two after your procedure. Patients are usually discharged from hospital on the same day following this procedure, usually within a few hours.