Heart Vascular Stroke Institute

Coronary Artery Team

A Leading Team in Coronary Intervention for Acute and Chronic Coronary Syndromes

The Coronary Artery Team at Samsung Medical Center delivers timely and effective interventions for patients with coronary artery disease. Our expert interventional cardiologists specialize in both acute coronary syndromes-including unstable angina and myocardial infarction-and chronic coronary syndrome. Utilizing highly advanced techniques, we aim to restore blood flow quickly and minimize myocardial damage. Through seamless collaboration with cardiac surgery, intensive care, and emergency medicine teams, we offer individualized treatment strategies to ensure optimal outcomes for each patient.

Cutting-Edge Interventional Therapies

We perform over 1,500 coronary interventions annually using the latest technologies, including drug-eluting stents, intravascular imaging (IVUS, OCT), physiology-guided techniques (FFR, CFR, IMR) rotablation and shockwave intravascular lithotripsy. Our team excels in managing complex coronary artery disease, including chronic total occlusions, left main disease, bifurcation lesions, and multivessel disease. We provide 24/7 emergency PCI service for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), achieving industry-leading door-to-balloon and shock-to-balloon times. Mechanical circulatory support such as ECMO is also integrated into care for patients within cardiogenic shock.

Specialized Expertise

ECMO-assisted Cardiogenic Shock Management

For patients with severe myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock, we offer advanced mechanical circulatory support, including veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Our experienced team provides comprehensive, protocol-based care during the most critical stages, stabilizing hemodynamics and allowing time for myocardial recovery.

Expertise in Complex Coronary Interventions

We specialize in high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions for CTOs, bifurcation lesions, and left main coronary artery disease. These are performed using advanced techniques such as intravascular imaging, rotablation, and intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) to ensure safe and effective treatment in anatomically and clinically challenging cases.

24/7 Acute MI & Cardiogenic Shock Team

We operate a dedicated, round-the-clock rapid response team for the management of STEMI and cardiogenic shock. Our goal is to minimize myocardial injury and improve survival through immediate diagnosis and timely reperfusion therapy.

Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration

Our coronary care model is built on a multidisciplinary foundation, integrating cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, emergency physicians, intensivists, and rehabilitation specialists. We are actively involved in national and international registries and multicenter clinical trials, continuously refining our protocols based on the latest scientific evidence and real-world data.

Beyond acute management, we focus on long-term recovery and prevention. Our integrated cardiac rehabilitation program includes supervised exercise, nutritional counseling, and psychosocial support to promote full cardiovascular recovery and reduce recurrence risk. Dedicated nurse coordinators facilitate smooth transitions from hospital to home, while structured patient education empowers individuals to take an active role in managing their heart health.

Through this holistic, patient-centered model, we strive to deliver personalized, high-quality cardiovascular care that enhances both clinical outcomes and quality of life.