Cardiac Interventional Services
Cardiac Interventional Services
Interventional Cardiology
Intervention cardiology is a medical specialty that uses small tubes called catheters to specific conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. These catheters are threaded through arteries or veins to the heart or other regions in the body by an interventional cardiologist.
Screening, Testing and Diagnosis
An interventional cardiologist uses a variety of tests and screenings to diagnose and treat specific heart diseases and conditions. In additional to blood and other screening tests, your specialist may conduct imaging tests to see how blood flows through the heart. Imaging tests can also help locate blood clots and aneurysm and can be used during surgery to help guide the surgeon.
Our diagnostic tests include:
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- Cholesterol test
- Blood pressure test
- Blood glucose test
- Stress test
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- Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) imaging
- Artery and aneurysm imaging
- C-reactive protein test
Cardiac Cath Lab
The Augusta Health’s Heart and Vascular Center includes a cardiac cath lab, which is where cardiac interventional diagnosis and treatment takes place.
In diagnosis, cardiac catheterization is used to determine how well the heart is pumping blood and to detect blockages. If a problem is discovered, cardiac catheterization offers an alternative to open heart surgery for some patients.
One procedure, called balloon angioplasty, increases the amount of blood that can flow through the vessel. Another procedure, called coronary stenting, places a spring-like device inside the artery, which helps support the wall of the artery after angioplasty.
Interventional Cardiology allows us to diagnose many heart problems using non-surgical techniques.
Interventional cardiologists are specially trained to use tiny catheters that are inserted into the arm or leg, and then threaded through arteries or veins to the heart or other regions in the body.
Treatment Information
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Angioplasty and stent placement
- Drug eluting stents
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes including Heart Attack
