Percutaneous coronary intervention
Visitor Information
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Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is a leading specialist tertiary centre for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) offering the latest and most advanced assessment and treatments for patients with coronary artery disease. The service covers the entire spectrum of treatment options available for patients with coronary disease including complex PCI treatments.
As one of London’s eight heart attack centres, we offer round-the-clock emergency care and treatment for patients with suspected heart attacks. Many patients are brought to us directly by the ambulance service when heart attack is suspected.
Conditions we treat
- acute coronary syndromes (heart attack)
- angina (or angina equivalent)
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
Treatments we offer
- full range of coronary intervention and advanced coronary imaging
- coronary angiography
- pressure wire assessments (FFR and iFR)
- intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
- intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT)
- complex PCI including rotational and laser atherectomy
- Impella device support for selected cases
- chronic total occlusion (CTO) PCI
- Intravascular lithotripsy using Shockwave technology
- Chronic total occlusion (CTO) PCI
- multi-vessel PCI
- high risk coronary intervention
- tailored coronary revascularisation for chronic kidney disease patients
Meet the team
Consultants
Dr Ghada Mikhail, clinical lead
Dr Rasha Al-Lamee
Dr Christopher Baker
Dr Michael Bellamy
Dr Piers Clifford
Dr Justin Davies
Dr Rodney Foale
Professor Darrel Francis
Dr Nearchos Hadjiloizou
Dr Raffi Kaprielian
Dr Ramzi Khamis
Dr Masood Khan
Professor Jaspal Kooner
Dr Iqbal Malik
Dr Sukh Nijjer
Dr Punit Ramrakha
Dr Neil Ruparelia
Dr Sayan Sen
Dr Amarjit Sethi
Patient information
About your appointment
We will book an appointment for you after we receive a referral from your GP. The date and time of your appointment will be sent to you via a letter in the post. If there is any doubt that the letter will not arrive in good time you will be contacted by phone.
You are welcome to bring a family member, friend, guardian or carer with you to the appointment. If English is not your first language or you may need help with translation, then please do bring a relative or friend who is able to understand English well in order to retain information and help organise your visit.
You are welcome to ask for a chaperone and we will endeavour to provide one for you.
We suggest you wear flat, fully covered shoes or trainers to your appointment as you may be asked to perform a treadmill test, if you are able to do so.
Before attending for any test, you are able to eat and drink as normal. You may want to bring a snack if you are going to be at the clinic for a while. There is drinking water available.
It is very important to bring all your medications to your appointment. Please remember to check your appointment letter for anything specific you may have been asked to bring with you. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following:
- full address and phone number
- appointment card and appointment letter
- GP's name and address
- a list of questions you may want to ask your consultant
At your appointment
Upon arrival please visit the main reception. We will make every effort to ensure you are seen on time but sometimes a delay is unavoidable. Our team will ensure you are kept up to date about any delays.
The majority of patients can expect to be at the clinic for less than an hour. If you are attending some clinics for specific conditions you may need to have a number of tests performed on the same day as your consultation which may result in an attendance of up to three hours.
You will see a consultant or one of their team at your appointment. They will discuss the results of any tests you may have had as well as their findings and recommendations. You may be referred for further tests or your condition will be further managed in the community. The team will discuss next steps with you.
Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.
After your appointment
Following your appointment, the doctor will make a diagnosis and will send recommendations and advice to your GP in a letter. You will receive a copy of this letter.
Patient information leaflets
Videos courtesy of the British Heart Foundation
The video below, produced by the British Heart Foundation, can help you learn more about angioplasty and stents.
Your guide to angioplasty and stents
Refer to this service
GPs
Please use NHS e-Referrals to refer a patient to this service.
If you are concerned that your patients are experiencing symptoms of angina then, you may refer them to our service.
We ask that when you refer patients to us, you include a standard referral letter along with the any relevant results:
- blood tests
- ECG
- echocardiography
Additional information
Research and discoveries
The Trust has a pioneering PCI service with many of the consultants holding senior academic appointments within Imperial College London. Some of the most recent advances in the field and technologies that are used internationally have been developed by consultants at the Trust such as the iFR pressure wire assessment tool. Our team’s scientific research and discoveries are also often featured in the national and international press.
There are a number of ongoing clinical trials within the department and please feel free to ask the team when you have your appointment. Alternatively, the team may discuss this with you during your appointment or contact you afterwards to discuss in more detail.
Education
We offer PCI elective placements — please contact the relevant consultant for more information. We also offer the Imperial Valve and Cardiovascular Course, an annual four-day course for cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, anaesthetists, physiologists, radiographers and cath lab and cardiac nurses. Visit IVCC-London.co.uk to learn more.