CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
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As the UK’s No.1 for private cardiac care, we look after more patients than any other UK private healthcare provider. That means we have the experience and the expertise to deliver exceptional care for our patients, from the most common stent procedure to complex cardiac care.
Within our first-class facilities for stent surgery, you can be confident you'll be in the safest of hands. That’s why, of the 26,000 people we help every year, 99% say they’d recommend us to family and friends.
A stent is a small, expandable metal mesh tube that can be inserted into narrowed arteries to restore blood flow. This is usually done to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) caused by the build-up of fatty plaque.
When a stent is inserted during a coronary angioplasty, this is known as a percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI. It can be used in an emergency, if someone is having a heart attack, or as a preventative measure.
If you think you might need a heart stent procedure, our leading multidisciplinary team (MDT) can offer you the personalised care you need within our expert private network. We’re the UK’s leading private provider of PCI care, trusted by more patients than any other hospital group.
If you have plaque build-up inside your artery, this can restrict blood flow to the heart. This condition is called coronary heart disease (CHD) which can cause chest pain. it can also cause a blood clot or a heart attack.
Most people find out they have heart disease when they have a heart attack. If you have angina or are having a heart attack, you might need to have a stent fitted. Some of the symptoms of a heart attack include:
It's important to know that not all cases of coronary artery disease can be fixed with private stent surgery. Your cardiologist will let you know whether a cardiac stenting procedure is right for you.
In some instances, it's possible to treat and control symptoms of coronary artery disease with medications. Your consultant will discuss the options with you.
200+
specialist consultants to choose from
500+
Stent (PCI) procedures performed every year
99%
success rate for heart bypass surgery
Next-day appointments
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
01
Initial consultation
02
Investigations and diagnosis
During your initial appointment, your consultant will also carry out diagnostic tests to gain a better picture of your overall heart health and any heart conditions. This might include:
Once they’ve confirmed a diagnosis, our specialists will put together the most effective treatment plan for you. This might include stent surgery.
03
Stent procedure
A coronary stent procedure normally lasts between 30 minutes and two hours, but it can occasionally take longer. The procedure takes place in a specialised ‘cath lab’ and you can have painkillers or sedatives if you need them.
Your consultant will carefully insert a small tube into your artery and pass the stent into the area of the blockage. Before your procedure, you'll be given further information including:
04
Follow up
05
Ongoing maintenance
Accessing private health care
During your stent procedure:
We offer complex PCIs, too. These are usually used to treat multiple arteries or severely blocked arteries so take a little bit longer than the standard procedure. To do this, we might use additional surgical and imaging methods including endovascular ultrasounds or rotablades to make sure your arteries are working efficiently.
If you have coronary heart disease, having a stent inserted can help to improve blood flow and reduce your risk of major heart conditions such as heart attack. This type of procedure can produce immediate relief from symptoms. It can also be used as an emergency treatment if you’re having a heart attack.
Heart stent operations are a common cardiac treatment. As your consultant doesn't need to make large incisions to fit a stent, it's deemed a safe cardiac procedure for most people. This surgery is regarded as minimally invasive, so you'll normally be awake during your coronary angioplasty.
Stent surgery is generally a safe procedure. Some potential complications include:
Before you decide to go ahead with stent surgery, your consultant will discuss the potential risks and benefits with you so you can make an informed decision. We conduct over 500 of these procedures every year as the UK’s top private cardiac care provider, so you’re in safe hands with us.
Before your procedure, you’ll be given further information about how to prepare for the procedure, including:
You'll also need to arrange for someone to take you home after your procedure. This is usually the same day or after a few days if you need further monitoring.
The different types of stent include:
Your consultant will let you know which type of stent is best for you as part of your initial consultation.
“Most of the angioplasty that we do is done on a day-case basis. Patients often experience a dramatic symptomatic relief – and most do very well in the long run”
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.