Minimally invasive techniques to treat heart disease
In some cases, heart disease can be treated using minimally invasive interventional cardiology techniques that use a catheter (thin, flexible tube) inserted into the arteries. The catheter is guided to the heart to open blocked arteries and improve blood flow. These advanced techniques are performed on an outpatient basis and offer a non-surgical alternative to treat many heart conditions.
Physicians Regional’s board-certified interventional cardiologists use a variety of advanced catheter-assisted techniques to treat heart disease, including:
Diagnostic cardiac catheterization – Used to examine the heart with real-time images (fluoroscopy), and measure blood pressure, blood flow, oxygen levels, and collect biopsies and blood samples.
Angioplasty – Used to open blocked arteries.
Stent placement – A stent, which is a small mesh tube placed in an artery, is used to improve blood flow.
Ablation – A catheter fitted with a tiny electrode is used to eliminate abnormal heart cells that cause arrhythmias.
Coronary atherectomy – Used to remove hardened plaque from a blocked artery.
Heart surgery expertise
When open-heart surgery offers the best treatment solution, Physicians Regional’s board-certified cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons are well equipped to perform advanced procedures such as coronary artery bypass surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), congenital heart disease repair and valve repair and replacement.