What is the purpose of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)?

The purpose of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is specifically to open blocked coronary arteries. This procedure is commonly used to treat patients with coronary artery disease, where the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked due to plaque buildup. By using specialized tools such as balloons and stents, PCI aims to restore blood flow to the heart muscle, which is crucial for maintaining healthy heart function and preventing complications such as heart attacks.

In the context of the other options, they do involve heart-related procedures but are distinct from PCI. Replacing damaged heart valves pertains to valvular heart disease, measuring heart electrical activity is related to conducting an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other monitoring techniques, and heart transplants involve replacing a failing heart with a donor heart. Each of these procedures has its specific indications and purposes, separate from the goal of improving coronary blood flow through PCI.