Interventional cardiology involves the use of minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat heart and vascular problems.
At Harbor View Medical Services, our interventional cardiologists offer advanced approaches to diagnosis and treatment of problems like heart attack, valve problems and congenital heart disease. Often, we can offer treatments that help people avoid heart surgery.
Interventional Cardiology Procedures We Perform
Harbor View's interventional cardiologists specialize in cardiac catheterization. In this procedure, a thin tube is inserted into an artery in the neck, arm or groin. The doctor uses x-rays to guide the tube to the right area. Once it's there, treatments like stents can be delivered.
One of the benefits of this approach is the quick recovery. You'll likely find yourself able to walk around soon after your procedure with little or no pain. You'll also heal quickly and without major scarring.
Here are a few of the procedures our team commonly performs:
- Angioplasty. In angioplasty, a doctor enlarges either arteries or veins to improve blood flow. Coronary angioplasty is done to open clogged heart arteries.
- Valvuloplasty. While angioplasty enlarges arteries or veins, valvuloplasty improves blood flow by stretching tightened heart valves.
- Congenital heart defect treatment. Interventional cardiologists can repair an abnormal structure or opening of the heart.
- Percutaneous valve replacement or repair. In the past, valve replacement or repair required open heart surgery. Now interventional cardiologists can fix or replace a heart valve using catheterization.
- Coronary thrombectomy. A blood clot in a coronary artery can cause serious health problems. With this procedure, an interventional cardiologist can remove the blood clot.
- Heart surgery (cardiothoracic surgery). Some interventional cardiology procedures are only performed by a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Learn More
For more information about our interventional cardiologists and the services we offer, give us a call at 631.689.1400.