An explanation of interventional cardiology

What is interventional cardiology?

Interventional cardiology refers to various non-surgical procedures used to define and treat cardiovascular disease. Interventional cardiologists use thin flexible tubes to get inside the bodys blood vessels to diagnose problems and repair damaged vessels or heart structures.

Does interventional cardiology work for all types of heart disease?

Interventional cardiologists treat narrowed arteries and weakened heart valves, which are often caused by coronary artery disease where blood flow is restricted in the tubes that supply the heart muscle with blood and oxygen, by heart valve disease where valves dont regulate the flow of blood as they should to the heart chambers or by peripheral vascular disease where other arteries in the body become clogged, interrupting natural blood flow.

Interventional cardiology cannot replace cardiac surgery in all cases but technological developments have greatly improved the ability to use non-surgical methods, which result in shortened hospital stays and faster recoveries for patients.

How are these diseases determined?

Cardiac catheterization is an interventional test that evaluates coronary arteries and heart valve function. A catheter (thin flexible tube) is threaded through a blood vessel into the heart or area being examined. With the catheter in place, the cardiologist can determine blood pressure, take blood samples, and inject dyes into the body that allow the movement of blood to be traced through the arteries and heart chambers. As the dye moves through the body, the cardiologist can see if there are narrowed or blocked arteries or valves that don't function as they should.

What are the non-surgical treatment options?

Various procedures using these thin, flexible tubes can be used and are selected based on the diagnosis. Angioplasty is probably the most commonly recognized treatment. The cardiologist inserts a catheter, a long, slender tube, through a blood vessel and guides it to the area to be treated. A balloon is placed at the tip of the catheter and inflated to stretch the artery open, restoring blood flow to the heart. Generally, a stent (a small metal mesh cylinder) is placed in the vessel to keep it open. Balloons and stents also are used to open carotid arteries to the brain, lessening the risk of stroke.

What symptoms are indicative of heart disease?

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An explanation of interventional cardiology