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Types of Interventional Cardiology Procedures
Angioplasty and Stenting
A slender, long tube is inserted into your wrist or leg through a blood vessel and guided to your heart or other areas in your body. The doctor injects a dye through your arteries for guidance while he performs the stenting procedure.
The catheter has a balloon at the tip which inflates to stretch your artery open and increase blood flow to your heart. A stent (small metal mesh cylinder) is then placed into your vessel so it stays open.
Atherectomy
Cardiologists place a burr or rotary shaver at the tip of a catheter and guide it to the affected area to remove plaque that has built up on the walls of your artery. A laser catheter might be used in some cases to vaporize the plaque.
Balloon Angioplasty
A tiny balloon is inserted and inflated into your blocked artery to create space. The plaque is compressed by the balloon against your artery wall to improve your blood flow. The doctor then removes the balloon after the procedure is completed.
Embolic Protection
Occasionally, if the narrowing that is being treated is in your carotid arteries or in a bypass graft, the doctor will use specialized devices such as filters to prevent the plaque from breaking off and traveling in your blood causing damage.
Percutaneous Valve Repair
You have four valves in your heart that control how your blood flows through your heart chambers. Catheters are used to guide devices like clips to your damaged valve through your blood vessels. Doctors then repair your valve so your blood can start flowing properly again using these devices.
TAVR
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally-invasive procedure to replace a poorly working heart valve. TAVR is an alternative to open-heart surgery, which may be too risky for some patients. With TAVR, a catheter carries a new valve through the blood vessels and through the narrowed valve. The stent that houses the new valve then expands into place, and the new valve starts working right away. Learn more about how we are using cutting-edge technology to make TAVR procedures as safe as possible.
Electrophysiology
Many heart problems occur due to arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat caused by "short circuits" in the heart's electrical system. Electrophysiologists are specially-trained cardiologists who diagnose and treat heart arrhythmias.
Our electrophysiologists can precisely identify electrical problems in the heart, and they have access to the most sophisticated treatments, like advanced pacemaker systems, catheter ablations and implantable defibrillators.
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Non-invasive heart care
Our heart team includes non-invasive cardiologists. These specialized doctors focus on determining the best medical or surgical treatment available, and they provide follow-up care. Our non-invasive cardiologists have diagnostic capabilities available that are painless and non-invasive.
Diagnostic tests we offer
Echocardiography. In this test, sound waves directed at your heart from a wand-like device (transducer) held on your chest produce video images of your heart in motion.
This test assesses the structure of your heart, the heart valves and the blood flow through your heart. An echocardiogram helps your doctor get a close look at the heart valves and how well they're working. Doctors may also use a 3-D echocardiogram.
Doctors may conduct another type of echocardiogram called a transesophageal echocardiogram. In this test, a small transducer attached to the end of a tube is inserted down the tube leading from your mouth to your stomach (esophagus).
This test allows doctors to have a closer look at the heart valves than is possible with a regular echocardiogram.
Electrocardiogram (ECG). In this test, wires (electrodes) attached to pads on your skin measure electrical impulses from your heart. An ECG can detect enlarged chambers of your heart, heart disease and abnormal heart rhythms.
Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray can help your doctor determine whether the heart is enlarged, which can indicate certain types of heart valve disease. A chest X-ray can also help doctors determine the condition of your lungs.
Cardiac MRI. A cardiac MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of your heart. This test may be used to determine the severity of your condition and assess the size and function of your lower heart chambers.
Exercise tests or stress tests. Different exercise tests help measure your activity tolerance and monitor your heart's response to physical exertion. If you are unable to exercise, medications to mimic the effect of exercise on your heart may be used.
Cardiac catheterization. This test isn't often used to diagnose heart valve disease, but it may be used if other tests aren't able to diagnose the condition or to determine its severity.
In this procedure, a doctor threads a thin tube (catheter) through a blood vessel in your arm or groin to an artery in your heart and injects dye through the catheter to make the artery visible on an X-ray.
This provides your doctor with a detailed picture of your heart arteries and how your heart functions. It can also measure the pressure inside the heart chambers.
Heart surgery
Our cardiovascular surgeons coordinate and perform cardiovascular and thoracic surgery to repair the heart, surrounding vessels and lungs. They coordinate and perform cardiovascular and thoracic surgery in conjunction with other procedures, including:
• Aortic aneurysm repair
• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
• Heart Valve Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Carotid repair
• Esophagectomies
• Congenital anomalies which cause patients difficulties later in life
Minimally-invasive care through advanced robotic surgery
With our da Vinci® Xi Surgical System, we perform a variety of procedures in the most precise and minimally invasive fashion including:
• Robotic lobectomy
• Segmental resection
• Pneumonectomy
• Lung biopsy
• Minimally-invasive surgery
• Minimally-invasive bypass surgery
• Removal of thymic tumors and mediastinal masses
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Pediatric cardiology
Our
pediatric cardiology team specializes in diagnosing and treating childhood heart conditions. Heart defects cause many childhood heart conditions.
Our board-certified pediatric cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons are dedicated to eliminating or limiting the effects of childhood heart conditions on your child’s life.
Many children born with congenital heart disease need care into adulthood. Our pediatric cardiologists can continue care with these adult patients.
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Heart Failure Improvement Clinic
Heart failure is a chronic disease in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. While heart failure is not curable, it is manageable with the right treatment plan.
Our
Heart Failure Improvement Clinic is designed to help you manage your heart failure diagnosis. We will:
• Identify and act quickly to meet your needs and avoid unnecessary complications or hospitalizations.
• Develop an individualized treatment plan that works for you.
• Work to strengthen your relationship with your established doctor and care team.
John Miller is a patient in our Heart Failure Improvement Clinic. We have helped John stay active, engaged with his family and, of course, dancing with his grandchildren. See how our Heart Failure Improvement Clinic got John back in the game:
