Interventional Cardiology
In some cases, heart disease can be treated using minimally invasive interventional cardiology techniques that use a catheter (thin, flexible tube) inserted into the arteries. The catheter is guided to the heart to open blocked arteries and improve blood flow. These advanced techniques are performed on an outpatient basis and offer a non-surgical alternative to treat many heart conditions.
Board-certified interventional cardiologists at Longview Regional Medical Center use a variety of catheter-assisted techniques to treat heart disease, including:
- Diagnostic cardiac catheterization - Examines the heart with real-time images (fluoroscopy), and measures blood pressure, blood flow and oxygen levels, and is used to collect biopsies and blood samples.
- Angioplasty - A tiny balloon on the end of a catheter is inflated to push plaque against the wall of the artery to improve blood flow. A laser can also be used to break up the plaque.
- Stent placement - A stent, which is a small mesh tube, is placed in an artery to hold it open and improve blood flow.
- Coronary atherectomy - A catheter fitted with a tiny rotating shaver removes hardened plaque to open a blocked artery.