Those diagnosed with a cardiovascular ailment may have many concerns and questions. Patients with these diseases should know that they are not alone: Many millions of Americans have cardiac disease and other cardiovascular conditions. Patients should also know that they may not have to travel far away from friends and family for treatment; New Hampshire interventional cardiology facilities can provide state-of-the-art treatment for a host of conditions.
Interventional Cardiologists
A cardiologist may refer certain cases to interventional cardiologists, specialized doctors who work with very thin tubes called catheters. Catheters are most often inserted by making a small incision at the very top of the thigh (where the leg meets the groin) and are then are threaded into the femoral artery. With the help of X-ray technology, the tube is then guided to the heart or another area that requires visualization or treatment. Often, only "conscious sedation" is used, though some procedures require heavier forms of anesthesia. Many of these procedures are thought to be safer alternatives to more invasive procedures, such as coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Problems that are referred to catheterization labs may include:
- Coronary artery disease, where restricted arteries decrease blood supply to the heart.
- Carotid stenosis, a narrowing of arteries in the neck that supply blood flow to the brain.
- Arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats.
- Congenital heart defects, malformations that are present at birth.
Procedures
There are many types of heart and vascular procedures that are done via catheter. They include:
- Angioplasty, a procedure in which a tiny balloon is threaded into a blocked or narrowed artery. The balloon is inflated to help clear problem areas and is then deflated and removed from the body.
- Cardiac ablation, which corrects faulty signals in the heart by destroying abnormal heart tissue.
- Congenital defect correction, which may be accomplished via catheter in a number of ways. Specific defects that may be treated this way include atrial and ventricular septal defects (ASD and VSD) and patent ductus arteriosus.
- Stent placement, a procedure aimed at opening carotid, coronary, or other arteries through placement of a very small mesh cylinder. This tube, or stent, may or may not be coated with medication to aid in keeping these blood vessels clear.
In addition to assisting in these procedures, catheterization is a vital tool doctors use in diagnosing conditions and assessing the severity of problems. Talk to a qualified health care provider to see if interventional cardiology is appropriate for you.
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