Heart & Vascular
Interventional Cardiology Interventional Cardiology
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Interventional Cardiology

Interventional cardiology is the subspecialty of cardiology that uses specialized catheter-based techniques to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease, vascular disease, and structural heart disease.

Interventional cardiologists are cardiology subspecialists who are trained to place stents in clogged arteries to allow blood to flow properly and reduce risk of stroke or heart attack, as well as to repair holes in the heart or place special devices in the heart to help it function properly.

If you are looking for more information about this condition, please call 1-866-STLUKES and you will be connected to our Cardiovascular team who can make an appointment with a cardiologist, cardiac surgeon or vascular surgeon who can best care for you.

Angiography

Angiography or arteriography is a medical imaging technique used to visualize the inside, or lumen, of blood vessels and organs of the body, with particular interest in the arteries, veins and the heart chambers.

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Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, typically to treat arterial atherosclerosis.

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Angioplasty, Stenting, Atherectomy

Angioplasty is a procedure in which a balloon is inflated to open the vessel. Stent placement occurs after the balloon is used. A mesh frame called a stent is placed in the vessel to support the walls. An atherectomy is when plaque is removed using a rotating shaver or laser.

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Balloon Valvuloplasty

Doctors may conduct a procedure using a long, thin tube (catheter) to repair a valve with a narrowed opening (valve stenosis). In this procedure, called balloon valvuloplasty, a doctor inserts a catheter with a balloon on the tip into an artery in your arm or groin and guides it to the valve. The doctor performing the procedure then inflates the balloon, which expands the opening of the valve. The balloon is then deflated, and the catheter and balloon are removed.

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Cardiac Catheterization and Invasive Cardiology

The cardiac catheterization laboratory (also called the “cath lab”) is a specialized invasive procedure area where many of the invasive cardiac procedures are performed including: coronary and peripheral angiograms, angioplasties/stents, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, balloon valvuloplasty and more.

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