Interventional cardiology is a service that includes minimally invasive procedures which identify any impairment to and/or help to improve blood flow to your heart and the rest of your body.
What is interventional cardiology?
Interventional cardiology is a service which includes minimally invasive procedures which identify any impairment to and/or help to improve blood flow to your heart and the rest of your body.
How does interventional cardiology work?
Interventional cardiology is a branch of cardiology which uses small flexible tubes called catheters to treat heart related diseases which require intervention procedures.
You will be referred by your cardiologist or internist to a specialist called an interventional cardiologist, who performs these procedures.
List of interventional procedures:
- Cardiac catheterization/Angiogram
- Carotid stenting
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)/Angioplasty
- Alcohol septal ablation
- Atrial septal defect closure
- Balloon aortic valvuplasty
- Balloon mitral valvuplasty
- Left atrial appendage closure
- Patent foramen ovale closure
These procedures are guided by live x-ray and sometimes ultrasound. Most cases are done with local anesthetic but can sometimes require general anesthesia.
You will be going home the same day as your procedure, unless otherwise told by your specialist. Preparation instructions are specific to each procedure and will be provided by your specialist. Discharge instructions are specific to each procedure and will be provided when you leave the hospital.