Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (PAMI)
or Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI)
is the angioplasty done as a life-saving emergency
procedure in a patient with an on-going myocardial
infarction. As the major pathology behind myocardial
infarction is a completely occluded culprit vessel, timely
revascularisation represents the most effective way of
reperfusing the jeopardized myocardium. The term
coronary angioplasty is used to describe a technique
wherein a balloon is used to crush blockages in the
blood vessels (coronary arteries) supplying the heart
and thereby restoring blood flow. These procedures are
invariably followed by insertion of metal scaffolding
called a stent which prevents recoil and reduces
re-blockage at the ballooned site.