Interventional Cardiology

Adventist Health’s interventional cardiologists diagnose and treat heart conditions using minimally invasive methods.

Our specialists have performed thousands of interventional procedures, so we have the expertise to perform them safely and effectively. As your partner in health, we work with you to find the care plan that meets your health goals.

Advanced, minimally invasive care

Adventist Health’s interventional cardiologists perform cardiac catheterization, using a catheter—a thin, flexible tube—to access blood vessels around your heart.

Conditions we treat

We most commonly treat:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD): Narrowing or blockage in the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart
• Valve disease: Problems affecting the way your heart’s valves open and close
• Peripheral vascular disease: Narrowed blood vessels that cause problems with blood flow (circulation) in areas of your body outside of your brain and heart (such as arms and legs)

Procedures we perform

After your diagnosis, we recommend a treatment plan based on your needs and medical history. Our team performs:

Cardiac catheterization

We thread a catheter from a vein in your groin, arm or neck to your heart. We use the catheter to assess heart function, find blockages and perform treatments such as angioplasty and stenting.

Angiogram

During a catheterization procedure, we inject dye into your blood vessels. We use X-rays to create images called angiograms that help us pinpoint blockages.

Angioplasty and stenting

During angioplasty, we thread a catheter through a blood vessel into your heart’s main artery (aorta). The catheter has a balloon attached to it, which inflates to widen your artery and restore blood flow.

We may also perform stenting, where we insert and expand a slender mesh tube (stent) inside a blocked artery to increase blood flow.

Device placement

We may use a catheter to help implant a:

• Pacemaker, which prompts your heart to beat at a normal rate

• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a small device that can electrically convert your heart back to a normal rhythm if it starts beating irregularly.

Rotational atherectomy

Using a revolving instrument attached to a catheter, we break up plaque that is blocking a coronary artery.

Peripheral vascular intervention

Peripheral artery disease causes blockages in the arteries leading to the legs, arms, intestines and head. We insert a catheter to clear the blockage using angioplasty (a balloon) or atherectomy (a rotating tool).

Valvuloplasty

We guide a catheter with a balloon on the tip to the heart. Then we inflate the balloon to enlarge a narrowed valve opening and separate the valve flaps.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

The aorta brings blood from your heart to the rest of your body. When the aortic valve can’t open fully, blood cannot flow through the body. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure, making it an option for patients who are not candidates for traditional surgery. Using advanced imaging, we guide the catheter to the heart and place an artificial replacement valve.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair with MitraClip™

Located between your heart’s left chambers, the mitral valve has flaps that keep blood flowing. When the valve doesn’t close correctly, blood leaks into your heart. However, some patients are not candidates for a traditional valve procedure. Transcatheter mitral valve repair with MitraClip™ is minimally invasive, allowing more people to get the help they need. We use a catheter to insert a device that repairs the leaky valve by helping the valve close more tightly.

Let us be your partner in heart health

Learn more about our cardiology services, find a location near you or find a local doctor specializing in cardiology.