Coronary angiography
A coronary angiogram is an X-ray test that shows the arteries that supply the heart.
Read the guide
Procedures · Dubai
Angioplasty and stents in Dubai
Coronary angioplasty widens a narrowed heart artery from the inside using a small balloon, and a stent, a fine metal mesh tube, helps keep it open. It is also called PCI. Dr Shady Habboush performs angioplasty and stenting at Saudi German Hospital Dubai, including emergency treatment of heart attacks.
Dr Shady HabboushConsultant Interventional Cardiology · Saudi German Hospital Dubai3 min read4 sourcesMedically reviewed against ESC and NHS guidance
01
Who it is for
- A heart attack, where opening the blocked artery quickly matters (call 998)
- Angina that continues despite medicines, with a narrowing shown on angiography
- A narrowing that tests show is limiting blood flow to a large area of heart muscle
- Many people with unstable angina or a smaller heart attack, once an angiogram shows the narrowing
Risks and alternatives
Angioplasty carries risks, including bleeding, damage to the artery, a heart attack or stroke during the procedure, kidney strain from the contrast dye and, later, narrowing or clotting inside the stent. Alternatives include medicines alone and coronary bypass surgery. The choice depends on your arteries and your preferences, and is discussed with you in detail.
02
What happens, step by step
- 01
The procedure starts like an angiogram, usually from the wrist, under local anaesthetic.
- 02
A very thin guide wire is passed across the narrowing.
- 03
A small balloon is inflated to widen the artery. You may feel brief chest discomfort while it is inflated.
- 04
A stent is placed and expanded against the artery wall. Most stents today are drug-eluting: they release a medicine that lowers the chance of the artery narrowing again.
- 05
Intravascular imaging such as IVUS may be used to measure the artery and check that the stent is well expanded.
- 06
The catheter is removed and the puncture site is closed with a band or dressing.
03
Recovery and what to expect
Many people stay in hospital for a short period, from a few hours to a night or longer after a heart attack. You will be told when you can drive, work and exercise again.
After a stent, blood-thinning medicines (usually aspirin plus a second antiplatelet medicine for a time) are essential. How long you need both depends on why the stent was placed and on your bleeding risk. Do not stop them without speaking to your cardiologist.
A stent treats one narrowing; it does not cure coronary artery disease. Medicines for cholesterol and blood pressure, not smoking, activity and cardiac rehabilitation protect the arteries in the long term.
04
Questions about this
Is a stent better than medicines?
It depends. In a heart attack, opening the artery is important. In stable angina, medicines alone are a reasonable first option for many people, and a stent may be added to ease symptoms. Dr Shady explains the options for your case.
How long does a stent last?
The stent stays in place permanently. The artery can narrow again over time, which is why the medicines and lifestyle changes after a stent matter.
Can I have an MRI scan with a stent?
Modern coronary stents are generally considered safe for MRI. Always tell the MRI team that you have a stent and carry your stent card.
What is the difference between angioplasty and bypass surgery?
Angioplasty opens the artery from the inside through a catheter. Bypass surgery uses a blood vessel from elsewhere in the body to route blood around the blockage. It is a heart operation, usually done through the breastbone (open-heart surgery). Some patterns of disease are better suited to one or the other.
Can I get a second opinion on a stent recommendation?
Yes. Bring your angiogram CD or report and recent tests. See the second opinion page for what to bring.
05
Related guides
IVUS imaging
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) uses a tiny ultrasound probe on a catheter to image a heart artery from the inside.
Read the guideSecond opinion
A second opinion means another cardiologist reviews your tests and the treatment recommended to you.
Read the guideSources
Medical facts on this page follow the sources below.
- NHS: Coronary angioplasty and stent insertion
- 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of chronic coronary syndromes. Eur Heart J 2024
- 2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes. Eur Heart J 2023
- 2018 ESC/EACTS Guidelines on myocardial revascularization. Eur Heart J 2019
Medically reviewed against ESC and NHS guidance · Updated October 2026. General information, not medical advice.
Location and booking
Book a consultation
Appointments are made through Saudi German Hospital Dubai, Hessa Street, Al Barsha 3. Consultations in Arabic, English and German.
- Address
- Hessa Street, Al Barsha 3, Dubai
- Languages
- Arabic, English, German
Chest pain right now? Do not wait for an appointment. Call 998 or go to the nearest emergency department.