This summer San Jacinto Methodist Hospital celebrated the first anniversary of successfully using PCI angioplasties to treat patients with diseased heart arteries.

A percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) angioplasty is a technique used to open up an area of arterial blockage within the heart. The technique uses a catheter that has a small inflatable balloon at the end. The balloon is typically inserted through the groin or the arm and then placed within a blood vessel. This technique is often referred to as a balloon angioplasty, and in most instances, a stent will be implanted. The major benefit of this type of treatment is that it can restore the function of the diseased artery without the patient having to undergo major surgery.

A Successful Year
To date, the hospital's PCI angioplasty program has a 100 percent success rate. Since the program began, there have been 130 successful non-emergency PCI angioplasties performed at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Marsha Stevens, Director of San Jacinto Methodist Hospital's Cath Lab, is pleased with the success of the program.

Sarma Challa, MD	Rashid Siddiqi, MD	Edward Leahey, MD Performs Emergent PCIs

"In recent years we have introduced EP studies, Tilt Table and TEEs to the hospital's Cath Lab," says Dr. Siddiqi. "Now with the success of our PCI program, it is another milestone toward achieving comprehensive Cardiac Care here in Baytown."

"When we began the program a year ago, we were thrilled to offer the community a minimally invasive procedure that could save lives in a matter of minutes," says Stevens. "Since then, we have seen the success of the program and how positively it has affected our patients' lives. We are extremely happy with the outcome thus far."

Sarma Challa, MD, and Rashid Siddiqi, MD, perform the PCI angioplasty at the hospital. "The success we've had with the PCI angioplasty program is phenomenal," says Dr. Challa. "When compared to larger hospitals, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital's program is comparable – if not superior. We are very proud of the program and look forward to more success."