Is this for you?
You may be a candidate if…
You have angina that limits you despite medication
A scan or angiogram has shown a significant narrowing
You have had a heart attack or unstable symptoms
You have been told a blockage is too complex to treat — and want another opinion
What it is
Restoring blood flow to the heart
Angioplasty (percutaneous coronary intervention, PCI) is a keyhole procedure performed through the wrist or groin. A fine wire and balloon open the narrowing and a stent — a small mesh tube — holds the artery open.
Dr Rauf uses intracoronary imaging and pressure-wire assessment to decide exactly where, and whether, a stent is needed — and has particular expertise in complex cases such as chronic total occlusions and calcified disease treated with rotablation.
Conditions treated
What angioplasty treats
Stable angina
Chest tightness on exertion despite medication.
Heart attack (NSTEMI / STEMI)
Emergency and early treatment to restore flow.
Chronic total occlusion
Long-standing blockages, treated with specialist techniques.
Calcified disease
Rotablation to prepare hardened arteries for stenting.
The process
How your treatment unfolds
Consultation & tests
ECG, echo, CT or a diagnostic angiogram to understand exactly what is needed.
Planning
Your angiogram is reviewed in detail and the approach explained to you.
The procedure
In a dedicated catheter laboratory under local anaesthetic, usually under an hour.
Recovery & review
Home the same day; follow-up in person or by video.
Your options
Angioplasty, medication or surgery?
Not every narrowing needs a stent. Where medication and risk reduction will serve you better, that is the advice you will receive. For multi-vessel disease, bypass surgery may be discussed with a cardiac surgeon.
Private or NHS?
Choosing the private route
Dr Rauf performs angioplasty in the NHS at East Surrey, King’s College and St George’s Hospitals. Privately, the benefit is speed and continuity: prompt consultation, tests within days and your own consultant throughout.
