The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
- ✔ The UK's No.1* for private cardiac care
- ✔ More than 500 PCI procedures performed every year
- ✔ 99% of our patients would recommend us
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PCI Care at HCA
Why choose HCA UK?
We’re the UK’s leading private provider of PCI care, trusted by more patients than any other hospital group. That experience means our leading consultants are able to deliver better outcomes for patients, from diagnosis right through to treatment, whether simple or complex.
With appointments confirmed within 24 hours, and test results within two working days, you’ll have fast access to the full range of state-of-the-art cardiac care, from non-invasive treatments to complex surgery and aftercare.
It’s why 99% of our patients say they would recommend us.
You may see a percutaneous coronary intervention referred to as “coronary angioplasty” or a “Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)”.
It’s a non-surgical treatment to widen arteries in the heart that have become narrow or blocked by plaque. When this fatty substance builds up in the arteries, the condition, known as atherosclerosis, affects the blood supply to and from your heart.
If it goes undiagnosed or untreated, it can increase your risk of a heart attack and cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and arrhythmia.
A PCI usually takes between one and two hours, although sometimes it can take longer. The typical PCI procedure steps are as follows:
- You’ll be given a local anaesthetic to numb your groin or wrist. You may also be given a sedative to help you relax.
- A small tube will be inserted into your artery. A catheter is then placed inside that tube.
- The catheter will have a small, deflated balloon attached to it. This is guided into place using an X-ray.
- The balloon is inflated, which opens your artery.
- A stent, made of wire mesh, will be inserted to keep the artery open.
- The balloon and catheter are then removed, leaving the stent in position.
We also offer complex PCIs. These tend to take a little longer than the standard PCI procedures and are usually used to treat multiple arteries or those that are severely blocked.
If plaque builds up in your arteries, it can cause the following symptoms:
It’s important to remember that, while these symptoms may indicate plaque build-up, there are many other possible causes.
If you’re worried about your symptoms and would like to speak to a GP, you can book same-day and next-day private GP appointments with us.
Your PCI procedure should improve the blood supply to your heart, thus relieving your symptoms. We find that many people who have PCI treatment remain largely symptom-free as a result.
In some cases, a patient’s arteries can get narrower again, a condition known as restenosis, but the risk of this happening is lowering all the time. This is due to improvements in the stent technology available to us.
Every person we treat is unique, and the benefits to you will depend on your condition and general health. However, typically, PCI treatment can help to:
- Relieve chest pain
- Reduce feelings of breathlessness
- Reduce fatigue
- Give you more energy
- Reduce your risk of a heart attack
Of course, as with any medical procedure, PCI comes with some risk of complications. For more information on these, see the FAQ section below.
Care Quality Commission verified
All HCA UK hospitals are rated Good or Outstanding.
3,000
Patients treated in the UK 2024.
95%
Clinical success rate in 2024.
770
Expert cardiology consultants for you to choose from.
Your journey
From consultation to aftercare: Your time with HCA Healthcare UK
From the moment you step through the door, until the time you’re ready to leave, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible with us, every step of the way.
Along with state-of-the-art treatment and luxurious surroundings, one of the ways we can put you at ease is to prepare you for your visit and let you know what to expect at each stage.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, or in the FAQ section below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to help in any way they can.
01
Initial consultation
If you’re concerned about your heart, we can offer you a GP appointment, often within 24 hours. You’ll be able to discuss your symptoms and medical history with the consultant, and they’ll arrange any imaging or diagnostic tests - often on the same day.
02
Investigations and diagnosis
The tests your consultant arranges will depend on the nature of your condition. You’ll get the results within 48 hours, and your case will be presented to a dedicated cardiac multidisciplinary team, in order to ensure the highest level of medical care.
03
Treatment
While some patients are given a local anaesthetic, others will have a general anaesthetic, which means they’ll be asleep for the procedure. If you have a local anaesthetic, you may also be given a sedative to help you relax.
After your PCI, you may be able to go home the same day. However, if you do stay overnight, you'll be well looked after in one of our beautiful, comfortable rooms.
04
Aftercare
If you do stay overnight, you should be able to return home the next day. You won’t be able to drive for at least a week, so you'll need to arrange for someone to help with your transport.
You can expect to have a bit of bruising or soreness where the catheter was inserted, but please get in touch if it gets worse, starts to swell or if you get a temperature.
We’ll also prescribe medication to help with your recovery, including aspirin to reduce the risk of blood clots, and statins to lower your cholesterol.
Next day appointments
You’ll have access to a cardiac consultant within 24 hours.*
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours.*
Wide-reaching expertise across the UK
Visit any one of 15 dedicated diagnostic centres in London, Manchester and Birmingham.
Where can I get my PCI procedure?
Across our extensive network of hospitals and treatment centres, we have dozens of industry-leading cardiologists who can help you, from initial consultation to your PCI procedure and subsequent recovery.
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
Book your next-day appointment with an expert PCI consultant
If you don’t have a referral, don’t worry. Our private GPs can refer you to an appropriate consultant or for further tests. You can often get a same- or next-day appointment, so get in touch today to see how we can help.
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll give you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
FAQs
As with any medical procedure, a PCI can come with a risk of complications. These include:
- Bleeding or bruising around the area where the catheter is inserted
- Infection around the area
- Blood clots, which can form within stents
Major complications are extremely rare but can include:
- Heart attack or stroke during or after the procedure
- Damage to the coronary artery during the procedure
- Allergic reactions
Before your percutaneous coronary intervention, you will have time to ask your consultant any questions you may have about the potential risks involved. We conduct more than 500 of these procedures every year and we're ranked number one in the UK for private cardiac care, so you're in safe hands.
You will likely be asked to avoid eating or drinking anything for a few hours before your PCI. In the lead-up to the procedure, it's important to stay active, eat a healthy diet and continue to take any medication you are on. Most patients who have private PCI treatment with us stay overnight afterwards, so you may need to organise time off work and arrange for someone to take you to and from the hospital.
A percutaneous coronary intervention can be done under a general anaesthetic, which means you will be put to sleep for the procedure using inhaled gas or intravenous medicine. Alternatively, you may be given a local anaesthetic. This will numb the area where the catheter will be inserted - either in your groin or wrist. You may also be given a sedative to help you relax.
After your PCI, you may be able to go home the same day. But if you do stay overnight, you'll be well looked after in one of our world-class, comfortable facilities. You should then be able to return home the next day but you will not be able to drive for roughly one week so you'll need to arrange for someone to help with your transport.
It's normal to have a bit of bruising or soreness where the catheter was inserted, but please contact us if that gets worse, starts to swell or if you get a temperature. After a few days, you should start to feel back to normal and we may prescribe some medication to help with your recovery. These could include aspirin to reduce the risk of blood clots and statins to lower your cholesterol.
There are a few general lifestyle changes you can make that may help to reduce the risk of plaque building up in your arteries. These include:
- Being physically active on a regular basis
- Eating a healthy diet and reducing fatty foods such as butter, hard cheese and biscuits
- Giving up smoking
- Reducing your alcohol intake and cutting out binge-drinking
Your consultant will always recommend the most suitable and effective treatment for you and your condition. If they don't believe a percutaneous coronary intervention is the best course of action, they will discuss other options with you. These will depend on the nature of your condition but could include:
- Changes to your lifestyle, such as those mentioned above
- Prescribed medication to relieve your symptoms
- A heart bypass or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), where a blood vessel is taken from elsewhere in your body and used to bypass your blocked artery
Cardiac Care Patient Stories
A simple heart screening revealed Mahmoud’s tumour
At 55, Mahmoud had never felt fitter. The orthodontist from northwest London enjoyed daily exercise classes and a range of sports. It was only when a relative was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease that his wife suggested he arrange a routine heart health check-up.
Designing a new heart
Just two months after undergoing heart surgery at The Harley Street Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, David, who is in his 70s, is looking forward to his forthcoming trip to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Gothenburg with his wife.
"Time is of the essence with my heart, as I have diabetes"
Saleem, 57, keeps an active lifestyle to remain fit and healthy. He plays badminton once a week and goes for a walk in the morning and evening every day. Despite having type 2 diabetes, he continues to have a balanced and energetic life.
“My mum and I were overwhelmed with the level of care I received at The Portland Hospital and The Harley Street Clinic. We felt so safe and cared for.”