What does the medical abbreviation PCl mean?

PCI stands for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. It is a non-surgical procedure used to treat blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. During PCI, a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin or arm and guided to the blocked artery in the heart. A tiny balloon is then inflated to widen the artery and improve blood flow. In some cases, a stent, which is a small metal scaffold, is placed in the artery to keep it open. PCI is a common procedure and is usually successful in improving symptoms and preventing heart attacks.