Interventional cardiology refers to the diagnosis and treatments that are less invasive than open surgery. Doctors who specialize in this type of care use very thin tubes inserted into an artery. That means there’s no need for an incision in your chest. You benefit from:
Interventional procedures at St. Bernards Medical Center can treat:
Care for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
PAD happens when fat builds up in your leg arteries, reducing the flow of blood and oxygen. This leads to pain, weakness and slow wound healing in your lower body. To treat PAD, your doctor may recommend:
- Angioplasty and stenting – Uses a tiny balloon to widen clogged arteries and a stent (tube) to keep them open
- Atherectomy – Breaks up hard fat buildups with a miniature drill placed inside a blood vessel
- Peripheral vascular bypass surgery – Uses your healthy blood vessels or a graft (tube) to reroute blood around clogged arteries
These procedures improve blood flow through your legs, relieving your symptoms.
Treatment for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
DVT is a blood clot that usually appears in the lower legs. It can slow the flow of blood and oxygen, leading to pain, swelling and open wounds. If part of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, it can cause trouble breathing—a medical emergency.
To treat DVT, a doctor may use a catheter (tiny tube) to deliver a special medication to the clot and dissolve it. The doctor makes a puncture in a vein, guides the catheter up to the clot and then sucks it out as it dissolves. This procedure is called catheter-directed thrombolysis.
Varicose Vein Treatment
Treating swollen, twisted varicose veins can prevent or reduce leg pain, blood clots and skin sores. Ask your doctor about your treatment options. You may benefit from one of these procedures:
- Ablation – Uses heat to close varicose veins
- Phlebectomy – Removes varicose veins through minor surgery
- Sclerotherapy – Gives varicose veins injections of a fluid that shrinks them
These treatments reroute blood through healthier vessels, improving the flow of blood and oxygen.
Angioplasty & Stenting
Angioplasty opens blocked arteries to restore blood flow, relieving pain and other symptoms. It’s a treatment for heart attacks, but it can also treat chronic chest tightness or leg pain caused by narrowed, plaque-filled arteries.
For the procedure, your cardiologist inserts a thin, soft tube called a catheter into an artery and guides it to the blockage. The tube carries a tiny balloon, which inflates to widen the blood vessel. Your cardiologist may also place a stent (metal-mesh tube) to keep the artery open. The doctor removes the catheter and balloon, but the stent stays in place.
If you have heart failure, your cardiologist may use a tiny Impella brand device to help your heart pump enough blood during angioplasty. Your doctor will remove the pump after the procedure. This pump makes angioplasty a treatment option in cases that might otherwise be too risky.
Atherectomy
Atherectomy uses a tool that resembles a tiny drill to cut through fat in an artery. This improves the flow of blood and oxygen, especially in arteries where the fat is too thick or hard for balloon angioplasty.
For the procedure, a cardiologist inserts a thin, soft tube called a catheter into an artery. The catheter has a sharp tip that spins very fast to break up fat into tiny pieces, which are removed when the doctor withdraws the catheter.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
After a heart procedure, your cardiologist may recommend cardiac rehabilitation to restore your strength and endurance. We’ll develop an exercise and education program to meet your goals for a healthier life. With one-on-one guidance and group classes, you’ll get the valuable tools you need to recover.
