Heart Center Services
Interventional Cardiology
Interventional Cardiology
After you have completed diagnostic tests ordered by your physician, your cardiologist may determine that you need an interventional procedure to open blocked arteries and allow blood to flow to your heart muscle. Some of the most frequently used interventional procedures performed by our cardiologists include coronary angioplasty, stents, and atherectomies.
Angioplasty - A non-surgical procedure for patients with coronary artery disease or hardening of the arteries that can prevent a heart attack. A thin plastic tube or catheter is threaded through the arterial system until it reaches the coronary artery that feeds your heart. Once the catheter is moved into the clogged spot, a small balloon-tipped catheter is inflated, pushing plaque to the side, opening the artery so blood can flow more easily.
Stents - A wire mesh tube that is inserted into a coronary artery to keep it open and improve blood flow to the heart muscle. Stents are often used to improve the results of balloon angioplasty.
Atherectomies - A procedure for opening coronary arteries blocked by plaque and other fatty substances in the inner lining of an artery.