Cardiac Subspecialty Certification 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The procedure that may involve stenting during the treatment of blocked arteries is percutaneous intervention. This method is commonly used to treat coronary artery disease by opening up narrowed or blocked arteries. During a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a catheter is fed through the blood vessels to the site of the blockage. Once at the site, a balloon may be inflated to widen the artery, and a stent—often a small mesh tube—can be placed to keep the artery open. This combination effectively restores blood flow to the heart.

In comparison, while left heart catheterization involves visualizing blood flow within the heart and can guide intervention strategies, it does not directly involve treatment like stenting. Transcutaneous pacing is a temporary procedure for emergency situations related to arrhythmias, and it does not involve arterial stenting. Right heart catheterization measures pressures in the right side of the heart, typically for different diagnostic purposes related to heart failure or pulmonary hypertension, rather than addressing blockages in the arteries. Thus, percutaneous intervention is the correct answer as it specifically encompasses techniques for treating blockages while potentially involving the use of stents.