OFFICE SERVICES
Click on the service below for a brief description.

1. Cardiac Risk Assessment and Management
2. Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty
3. Peripheral Vascular Disease
4. Carotid Vascular Disease
5. Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia
6. Heart Failure
7. Pulmonary Hypertension
8. Women's Heart Health
9. Non-invasive Stress Testing
10. Nuclear Cardiology
11. CT Coronary Angiography
12. Preventive Cardiology

Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty

Cardiac catherization involves passing a catheter (a thin flexible tube) into the right or left side of the heart. In general, this procedure is performed to obtain diagnostic information about the heart or its blood vessels or to provide treatment in certain types of heart conditions. Cardiac catheterization can be used to determine pressure and blood flow in the heart chambers, collect blood samples from the heart, and examine the arteries of the heart.
How is the procedure done?
You will be given a mild sedative prior to the test to help you relax. An intravenous (IV) line is inserted into one of the blood vessels in your arm, neck, or groin after the site has been cleansed and numbed with a local anesthetic. A catheter is then inserted through the IV and into your blood vessel . The catheter is carefully threaded into the heart using an x-ray machine that produces real-time pictures (fluoroscopy). Once the catheter is in place, contrast material is injected and pictures are taken.
Test Preparation
Food and fluid are restricted 6 to 8 hours before the test. The procedure takes place in the hospital and you will be asked to wear a hospital gown. Sometimes, admission the night before the test is required. Otherwise, you will be admitted as an outpatient or an inpatient the morning of the procedure. Your health care provider should explain the procedure and its risks. Tell your doctor about all your medicines and allergies. Let your doctor know if you are allergic to shellfish or if you have had a bad reaction to contrast material in the past. Notify your doctor if you are taking Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, or if you might be pregnant.
The Procedure
The study is carried out in a laboratory by a trained cardiologist. You will be awake and able to follow instructions during the catheterization. A mild sedative is usually given before the procedure to help you relax. The procedure generally lasts one hour. Local anesthesia will be used to numb the IV site, so the only sensation should be one of pressure at the site. After the test, the catheter is removed. You might feel a firm pressure at the insertion site, used to prevent bleeding . If the IV is placed in your groin, you will usually be asked to lie flat on your back for a few hours after the test to avoid bleeding . This may cause some mild back discomfort.
Information obtained from the procedure Cardiac catheterization is usually performed to evaluate heart valves, heart function and blood supply. Therapeutic catheterization may be used to repair certain types of heart defects, open a stenotic heart valve, and open blocked arteries or grafts in the heart.
Abnormal Results
The procedure can identify heart defects or disease, such as coronary artery disease , valve problems, ventricular aneurysms , or heart enlargement. The procedure also may be performed for the following: heart valve abnormalities, heart artery abnormalities and heart function abnormalities.
Risks of the procedure
Cardiac catheterization carries a slightly increased risk when compared with other heart tests. However, the test is very safe when performed by an experienced team. Generally, the risk of serious complications ranges from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 500. The risks include the following: stroke, heart attack, vascular injury and death. Considerations associated with any type of catheterization include the following: In general, there is a risk of bleeding, infection, and pain at the IV site. There is always a very small risk that the soft plastic catheters could actually damage the blood vessels. Blood clots could form on the catheters and later block blood vessels elsewhere in the body. The contrast material could damage the kidneys (particularly in patients with diabetes).