Traditional Cardiac Services

Cardiovascular hemodynamics measures blood pressure and blood flow within the heart. These measurements help the cardiologist more accurately diagnose a patient’s cardiac conditions.

ICE is an imaging technique that uses a long, thin tube called a catheter with an ultrasound probe to create clear images of the inside of the heart. ICE may be used as a diagnostic tool or to guide the physician during minimally invasive procedures inside the heart, such as stent placement, or to repair a hole in the heart, such as an atrial septal defect.

IVUS allows physicians to see images inside the heart and coronary arteries using a long, thin tube called a catheter with a tiny ultrasound probe. It is a diagnostic tool that offers a 360-degree view of the arterial wall from the inside, with a more complete assessment than is possible with angiography. IVUS technology helps physicians more accurately select and place stents and other devices to restore blood flow at the site of a blockage.

FFR is a measurement procedure using a guidewire that can accurately measure blood pressure and flow through a specific part of the coronary artery. The FFR measurement helps a physician decide if additional procedures such as angioplasty or stenting are needed.

PFO is a small hole between the upper chambers of the heart. The hole exists naturally during fetal development to allow blood to flow from the right to the left side of the heart. It normally closes within the first two years after birth, but does not close in approximately 20% of the population. There is evidence that PFO may be associated with an increased risk of stroke and possibly contribute to the development of migraines.

An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the muscular wall that separates the heart’s two upper chambers. It occurs when part of the atrial wall does not form properly. Many ASDs can be repaired with minimally invasive techniques.

Also known as coronary angioplasty, PCI is a group of procedures used to treat accumulated plaque in the heart arteries. PCI often involves the precise placement of coronary stents to open blocked arteries.

PVI uses a long, thin tube called a catheter that is inserted in the groin or leg to open blocked coronary arteries and to restore arterial blood flow. It usually involves angioplasty and stent placement. A wire is inserted through the catheter into the artery and threaded across the blockage. A balloon is inflated at the site of the blockage inside the artery to improve blood flow. PVI is performed in either an emergency setting for treatment of critical limb ischemia or in an outpatient setting to treat a severe blockage causing leg pain.

Pericardiocentesis is a procedure that uses a needle to remove fluid from the pericardial sac, the tissue that surrounds the heart.

RHC is a procedure that evaluates the blood pressure in the right side of your heart and lungs. The test involves inserting a long, thin tube called a catheter through a vein in your leg or neck, to your heart to measure blood pressure. It is known as a right heart cath or sometimes a heart cath. This test should not be confused with a left heart cath, which evaluates pressures on the left side of the heart and looks for blockages in the coronary arteries which can cause heart attacks.

Rotational atherectomy is an interventional coronary procedure that uses a high speed, diamond-coated rotational instrument to grind away plaque from a blocked calcified coronary artery and restore blood flow to the heart. Angioplasty and stenting are often performed after rotational atherectomy to improve the results.

Valvuloplasty involves a balloon-tipped tube called a catheter that is threaded from the groin to the site of a narrowed cardiac valve. The balloon is inflated to enlarge the valve opening and improve blood flow. Symptoms of narrowed or blocked cardiac valves may include blood pressure abnormalities, shortness of breath, chest pain, irregular heartbeat or fainting.