Cardiac Catheterization and Cardiology Treatments
Select Heart Service
At FirstHealth Cardiology Services we are at the forefront of research and treatment, always staying abreast of the latest discoveries and innovations in the field of cardiology. Our cardiologists are able to treat a wide range of conditions and offer a number of diagnostic tests and outpatient procedures to provide you with the best possible cardiovascular care.
Conditions
Coronary Heart Disease
Conditions affecting the coronary arteries—the arteries that carry blood to the heart
Hypertension
Persistent high blood pressure that may affect the arterial system
High Cholesterol/Lipid Conditions
Raised levels of total cholesterol in the blood which may affect the artery walls; problems with various forms of fat that flow through the bloodstream
Congestive Heart Failure
Weakened heart muscle
Arrhythmias
Abnormalities in the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat
Cardiomyopathy
Chronic disorders of the heart muscle
Valvular Heart Disease
Conditions affecting one or more of the four valves of the heart
Congenital Heart Disease
Heart defects that have been present since birth
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Condition in which the heart valves have been damaged due to Rheumatic Fever
Miscellaneous Related Heart Conditions
Conditions related to Marfan’s Syndrome, thyroid problems, etc.
Diagnostic Testing
Electrocardiography (EKG)
A non-invasive test during which electrical signals from each heartbeat are transmitted from electrodes on the patient’s skin to a machine that graphs the rhythm and rate of the heartbeat; used to evaluate a number of heart conditions
Radiography
Chest X-ray used to evaluate the lungs, heart, and chest wall for a number of medical conditions
Echocardiography
A non-invasive diagnostic test that uses ultrasound, high-frequency waves to produce images of the heart’s structure and function, including the valves; used to detect and evaluate a myriad of heart conditions and defects
Carotid Ultrasound
A non-invasive diagnostic test that employs high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the carotid arteries; used to diagnose and evaluate blockage in the carotid arteries
Lab Tests
Tests performed in our onsite lab including: heart failure blood tests, electrolytes, lipid profiles, etc.
Stress Testing
Tests used to check for blocked arteries in the heart
- Exercise Treadmill Test
Nuclear Imaging (Myocardial Perfusion Scan)
Tests during which a small amount of a radioactive imaging agent is administered to the patient through an IV; the radioactivity aids the physician in detecting and evaluating the extent of coronary artery disease by comparing the blood flow in the heart at rest to the blood flow after stress. TreadmillChemical-Induced- - Adenosine (medication used to dilate the coronary arteries)
- Dobutamine (medication that increases heart rate and blood pressure)
- - Adenosine (medication used to dilate the coronary arteries)
- Stress Echo
Treadmill
Dobutamine
Rate/Rhythm Testing
Tests used to check abnormal heart rate and rhythms that may lead to symptoms
24 Hour Holter Monitor
Electrodes are placed on patient to monitor heart rate and rhythm for continuous 24 hour period
Event Monitor
Small monitor used for up to 30 days to record heart rate and rhythm periodically, during occurrence of symptoms
Loop Recorder
Implanted device that records heart rate and rhythm for up to a year
Electrophysiology Study
Tests used to examine the electrical function of the heart to diagnose or further determine arrhythmias; physicians monitor or stimulate the heart with electricity using small catheters inserted into blood vessels surrounding the hear
Procedures
Coronary Angiography/Heart Catheterization
These procedures may be diagnostic or therapeutic and are used to determine the extent of blockage in the arteries; a heart catheterization involves the insertion of a thin tube—a catheter—into an artery to provide information to the physician about blood supply to the heart or other potential heart conditions
Angioplasty/Stent
Angioplasty treatments are designed to reopen the inside of a blocked coronary artery to allow for sustained blood flow to the heart muscle; a stent is a device that may be inserted into an artery to act as a scaffold to prevent the artery from collapse or closure
Pacemaker Implantation
An outpatient procedure during which a pacemaker—a small device used to correct a slow, irregular, or abnormal heartbeat—is inserted; pacemakers may be temporary or permanent, internal or external
Cardiac Defibrillator Implantation
A procedure during which a small device is implanted under the skin in the upper chest and connected to the heart to monitor heart rate; when irregularity is detected, the defibrillator will electrically shock the heart to normalize its rhythm
CRT—Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
New form of therapy in which a specialized pacemaker is used to re-coordinate the action of the left and right ventricles (pacing both ventricles simultaneously) in patients with congestive heart failure