Which intervention is used to open a blocked coronary artery or bypass it?

• A. PCI with Stent
• B. Beta-Blocker Therapy
• C. Lipid Infusion Therapy
• D. Diuretic Therapy

Answer: (A)

Opening a blocked coronary artery or bypassing it is about restoring blood flow to the heart muscle, a process called revascularization. The hands-on intervention that directly opens the blocked vessel is PCI with a stent. In this procedure, a catheter is threaded to the coronary artery, a balloon is used to dilate the narrowed segment, and a stent is placed to hold the artery open and keep blood flowing through. This rapidly improves perfusion, minimizes heart muscle injury, and is commonly used in acute coronary syndromes as well as significant chronic blockages.

Other options don’t restore blood flow in the blocked artery. Beta-blocker therapy reduces heart workload and controls heart rate and blood pressure, but it doesn’t reopen a blocked vessel. Lipid management and diuretic therapy address risk factors and fluid status, respectively, and do not acutely revascularize the heart muscle.