Minimally Invasive Techniques

Interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons work together to determine the most effective treatment plan for each patient. Whenever possible, minimally invasive procedures are performed and most patients are able to go home the next day if no further intervention is needed.

• Balloon Angioplasty - Involves guiding a small catheter with a balloon tip into a clogged artery and inflating the balloon to push against the plaque to open the artery.
• Stent Insertion - Usually follows balloon angioplasty. Cobalt chromium or drug eluting stents are placed in a narrowed artery to permanently hold the passageway open for improved blood flow.
• AngioJet - Removes a clot from an artery by pulling it up into a catheter, using highly pressurized saline that breaks the clot and removes it from the vessel.
• Rotoblater - A catheter is inserted into an artery to pulverize plaque and re-establish blood flow.
• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy - A device is implanted to regulate the rhythm of the heart. Devices include single or dual chamber permanent pacemaker, an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) and bi-ventricular pacing.
• Transesophageal Echocardiogram - A small transducer is passed through the mouth and down the esophagus to provide views/moving pictures of the heart that measure chamber size, wall thickness, blood flow, valve function and wall motion.