In this section
The Interventional Cardiology Service in Manchester Royal Infirmary diagnoses and treats heart diseases, mainly focusing on problems affecting the arteries that surround the heart (coronary artery disease). The service uses minimally invasive catheter-based techniques. Unlike traditional open-heart surgery which accesses the heart through a cut in the chest, catheter-based procedures allow cardiologists to access the heart and blood vessels through tubes placed in the wrist or groin. This approach minimizes risk, reduces recovery time, and improves patient outcomes.
At the heart of the department lies the catheterisation laboratory, or cath lab – a sterile environment where cardiac procedures can be performed, typically using real-time X-ray guidance known as fluoroscopy. Here, interventional cardiologists perform a range of procedures:
- Coronary angiography: visualising the arteries that wrap around the heart to look for narrowings or blockages.
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): stretching open narrowed heart arteries to restore blood flow and then placing one or more metal mesh tubes called stents at the site of the narrowing to keep the blood vessel open. We use a range of advanced techniques such as intravascular ultrasound (ultrasound inside the coronary artery), pressure wire assessment (measuring blood flow in the coronary artery) and calcium modification (treating hardening on the inside of the blood vessels).
Interventional cardiology procedures to treat diseased heart valves or holes in the heart are performed at our Wythenshawe site:
- Transcutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI): A catheter-based technique to replace a very narrowed heart valve (the aortic valve) whilst avoiding open heart surgery.
- Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (MTEER): A catheter-based technique to repair a leaky heart valve (the mitral valve) whilst avoiding open heart surgery.
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure: A catheter-based technique to close a hole in the heart.
Some interventional cardiology procedures will be performed on a planned basis. However, much of the work of the interventional cardiology service is performed through emergency admissions for patients who are experiencing a heart attack. In these cases, referred to as Primary PCI, blocked heart arteries are immediately reopened to minimise the damage caused to the muscle of the heart. Patients may also be transferred from hospitals around the region for these procedures.
Sometimes, percutaneous coronary intervention is not the best treatment for a patient. The interventional cardiology service therefore has close links with other services within MFT including cardiac imaging and cardiac surgery, with multi-disciplinary team meetings held several times per week to discuss challenging cases and decide on the best possible treatment.
Contact Details
| Manchester Heart Centre Reception | 0161 276 4132 |
| Chest Pain nurses | 0161 276 5793 |