What it is
A catheter reaches the blocked coronary artery, a balloon opens it, and a drug-eluting stent keeps it open. Most patients go home in 1–2 days.
When it's the right choice
In heart attacks, urgently — locally. In stable coronary disease, the stent-versus-medication decision is genuinely debated in international guidelines, which is why a second opinion on your angiogram or CT before committing is often the highest-value step.
In Beijing
Fuwai Hospital is China's national cardiovascular center with world-leading PCI volumes, including complex and chronic-total-occlusion cases; Beijing Anzhen Hospital is similarly top-tier. China's national device procurement has cut stent prices dramatically, which shows in final bills.
Costs
Quoted individually after records review — typically far below US private prices. A written "do I need this stent?" second opinion starts from $400.