Interventional Cardiology Treatment & Procedures
Balloon Angioplasty and stenting
Non-surgical procedures used to widen arteries that have narrowed due to the build up of plaque. A stent is small metal coil that is permanently implanted in the artery to prevent re-closure.
Atherectomy
A small drill or cutter is guided into the narrowed artery. The blades are used to carefully cut the plague build up and clear the narrowed artery. Atherectomy is most often performed when the plaque is hardened or large
Embolic protection
A device is used to protects the body from plaque released during other procedures by not allowing it to circulate through the blood stream.
Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for the mitral, aortic, and pulmonic valves
Non-surgical procedure used to widen a heart valve that is too narrow (a condition called stenosis). A catheter (thin tube) with a deflated balloon at the tip is passed through the vessels to the narrow heart valve. The balloon is inflated, stretching the narrowed heart valve. The enlarged valve now allows adequate blood flow to pass through it.
Closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (PFO)
An Atrial Septal Defect is a hole in the septum (wall between heart chambers) of the atria (upper chambers of the heart). This hole can often cause irregular blood flow through the heart. Closure of the defect involves an ASD closure device that is moved through a previously placed catheter to the location of the heart wall defect. Once in the correct location, the closure device expands its shape completely sealing the hole. The catheter is removed but the device will remain in place permanently to prevent the abnormal flow of blood between the chambers of the heart.
Ethanol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
This non-surgical procedure induces a localized septal myocardial infarction (heart attack) at the site of obstruction. A catheter (thin tube) with a balloon attached is passed into the septal artery supplying the diseased area of the septum (the wall between heart chambers). The catheter balloon is inflated completely closing the the vessel and a small amount of dehydrated ethanol is injected through the catheter into the artery. This causes the vessel to close and localized myocardial infarction occurs. The affected area of the heart muscle is permanently scarred and shrinks reducing the obstruction and symptoms.
Myocardial biopsy
Three to Five small pieces of heart muscle are removed using a catheter (thin tube) with small jaws on its tip called a bioptome. The bioptome is guided through the vessels to the area of the heart muscle desired for testing.
Pericardiocentesis
This procedure is performed either to reduce excess fluid build up in the pericardium (protective fluid-filled membrane surrounding the heart), or as a diagnostic measure to asses infection or cancer. A needle is inserted into the pericardium and removes fluid. A catheter is often also inserted to allow additional drainage of fluid and can be left in for up to a few days.
