The interventional cardiologists at Perfect Heart Institute play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of life threatening problems. In both emergency and scheduled procedures, precision and attention to details contribute to our high success rates. Our interventional cardiology team handles both balloon angioplasty and coronary stent placement, performing more than 1,000 diagnostic catheterization procedures as well as over 600 balloon angioplasty or stent placements annually.

Coronary Angiography
       Cardiac catheterization is a safe, low-risk procedure which provides useful information about the patient’s condition. Cardiac catheterization is a relatively painless x-ray procedure and can be done under local anesthesia. The advantage of cardiac catheterization (angiogram) is that it easily provides a definite answer as to whether or not a patient has significant blockages in the heart or blood vessels. Physicians can then use this information to prescribe the appropriate treatment, be it balloon angioplasty, stent placement, and bypass surgery or other types of medical treatment.

Coronary angiogram of the left anterior descending coronary artery


Percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention

 
Coronary artery stent
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       Balloon angioplasty is used to dilate narrowed arteries. A thin tube with a deflated balloon on its tip is passed into the narrowed part of the artery. The balloon is then inflated and the narrowed artery is widened. It is an alternative to bypass surgery for some patients with coronary artery disease. The development of coronary stent improves the success rate for coronary intervention procedures and reduces the chances of re-narrowing of the diseased site. The latest type of stent features a medicated coat on the inside, which has been proven to further lower the rate of re-narrowing of the artery.


Peripheral intervention

       Perfect Heart Institute also provides evaluation and treatment of peripherial vascular diseases which usually manifest as pain in the arms and legs, particularly during physical activity. Diagnostic tests include ankle brachial index, CT angioplasty or magnetic resonance imaging. Balloon angioplasty and stenting can be successfully used to treat these conditions.