Procedures

Left Heart Catheterization Is performed to evaluate the heart and blood vessels for problems such as clogged arteries or irregular heartbeats. During this procedure, the interventional cardiologist will insert a thin flexible tube (catheter) into the left side of the heart. Cardiac catheterization gives important details about the heart muscle, heart valves and blood vessels of the heart. During the procedure, the doctor can test the pressures in the heart or do treatments such as opening a narrowed artery to improve blood flow. Typically the patient is awake during the procedure with medicines given to help promote relaxation.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ( PCI) Typically a cardiac catheterization procedure is performed to evaluate the patient’s heart health. If an artery has become narrowed with restricted blood flow and the interventional cardiologist believes the narrowed artery can be re-opened then a tiny balloon will be inserted into the vessel and expanded. To keep the vessel open, a small wire mesh tube called a stent that has been treated with medicine that will keep the artery open will be inserted and placed where the artery has become narrowed.