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At Colorado Springs Cardiology, we understand facing an interventional heart procedure can be overwhelming. There are many technical details to understand, and it can be frightening. If you have a heart condition, you will want to find a cardiologist you fully trust for your cardiology procedures and care. The physicians at Colorado Springs Cardiology work hard to earn, maintain, and justify your trust.
If you want to talk to us about your interventional cardiology procedure, please call 719-776-8500 or email us today.
Interventional Cardiology is a subspecialty of Cardiology that utilizes non-surgical, catheter-based treatments to diagnosis and treat different heart diseases. Catheter-based treatment involves the insertion of a cardiac sheath into the femoral artery located in the groin or by way of the radial artery in the wrist. Because of their size, the femoral and radial arteries allow passage of the cardiac catheter to the heart for necessary diagnosis and treatment. Interventional services in many cases, help avoid major surgeries like open heart, and restore blood flow, repair heart valves, address congenital heart defects and many other heart related diseases.
Some of the interventional cardiology procedures we perform include:
Balloon Angioplasty improves circulation and protects against dangerous arterial blockages that can cause heart attacks, strokes, and thrombosis (clot). A small balloon attached to a catheter is threaded through your femoral or radial artery to the site of blockage. The balloon is inflated, compressing the arterial plaque against the walls of the artery, creating an open space for blood to flow through. An arterial stent may be placed to keep the artery open.
After space is created (balloon angioplasty) for blood flow in the artery, the opening must be maintained. Lifestyle changes, medications, and other preventive procedures can help, but sometimes we need a more direct intervention. A stent is a small mesh tube that braces your blood vessel to help it stay open. After a stent is placed, patients will need to be on a medication regime to keep the artery and stent open.
The arteries around your heart are not the only ones that can develop plaque and become blocked. Blockage can also occur in veins and arteries elsewhere in the body. When this happens, your muscles and organs may experience limited blood flow and oxygen supply, hampering their function. Plaque buildup in peripheral arteries can also break off and travel to the heart, lungs and brain, causing serious damage such as a stroke.
We can treat peripheral vascular disease with lifestyle changes, medications, and cardiovascular interventions. Although the term “angioplasty” originally referred to the use of this procedure near the heart, we can also perform it on peripheral blood vessels, such as arteries in the leg. After clearing the artery, we can place a stent to keep the peripheral artery open.
Endovascular surgery uses surgical implements on a catheter to access damaged blood vessels or heart structures. This is commonly used to treat aneurysms and other blood vessel problems. It offers many benefits over open heart surgery, including shorter recovery and fewer risks.
Atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) are two types of defects in the heart. They aren’t necessarily serious – many people who have them aren’t even aware. However, we might detect them if you have migraine symptoms or experience a stroke. In the past, these were treated with open heart surgery, but now we can treat them with endovascular techniques.
We can perform some electrophysiology procedures with catheterized instruments. Electrophysiology refers to procedures that measure, change, or regulate the rhythm of your heart. Arrhythmia ablation, for example, ablates the area of the heart that is causing the irregular heartbeats. We use electrode catheters to detect the source of irregular beats, then freeze (cryoablation) or burn (radiofrequency ablation) that area so the irregular conduction and not pass through.
Although many structural heart procedures require invasive cardiology, some of them can be performed with catheterized instruments. During your consultation, we will talk to you about the benefits and risks of each approach to help you decide which is the best approach for you.
If you need interventional cardiology, you want to choose a doctor that gives you full confidence in their knowledge and skills. At Colorado Springs Cardiology, our specialists will help you achieve that confidence and comfort.
We utilize the latest proven technologies and techniques, but it’s our people that really set us apart. You will receive a dedicated team that works with you throughout treatment. Your clinicians won’t just get to know your condition, they’ll get to know you and having a dedicated team minimizes the risk of communication errors.
With our 6 locations across Southern Colorado and Kansas, we likely have a location that’s convenient to you. However, we also understand that quality treatment is worth traveling for. We can coordinate transportation and help you get accommodations if you are traveling from out of town.
Our goal is to not just give you the best treatment results, but the best treatment experience of any cardiology practice in Southern Colorado. Want to learn how we can help you? Please call 719-776-8500 or email us today to schedule an appointment at one of Colorado Springs Cardiology’s 6 locations.
