CARDIOVSACULAR INTERVENTIONS
at Premier Cardiovascular Care
Angioplasty, Stenting, & Atherectomy
Balloon angioplasty, stenting, and atherectomy are techniques that are used to open up narrowed or blocked blood vessels. Interventional cardiologist’s use these tools to treat vascular disease in the heart, in the peripheral arteries, and in the veins of the legs.
The exact approach between balloon angioplasty, stenting, and/or atherectomy varies based on the location, type, and complexity of disease.
Cardiac Rhythm Ablation
Catheter-based cardiac rhythm ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for atrial fibrillation that uses focused heat or cooling to eliminate disorganized electrical signals in the heart. This treatment is usually reserved for individuals that are not able to take antiarrhythmic drugs, or individuals that still experience symptoms despite treatment with antiarrhythmic drug therapy.
The primary clinical benefit of rhythm ablation treatment is to help improve quality of life and reduce symptoms of atrial fibrillation, such as palpitations, fatigue, and exercise intolerance.
Pacemaker / ICD Implant
A pacemaker is an electronic device that helps to maintain or restore a normal heartbeat by stimulating the heart with electrical impulses. Pacemakers are used to correct an abnormally slow heartbeat (bradycardia) that’s causing fainting, dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations, confusion, or fatigue.
An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is similar to a pacemaker in its form and function, however the main use of an ICD is to prevent cardiac arrest (sudden cardiac death) by correcting episodes of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive, catheter-based medical procedure in which the aortic valve is replaced with a mechanical or bioprosthetic valve. TAVR is used to treat individuals with severe aortic valve stenosis. TAVR is an effective alternative to surgical valve replacement for patients that are not healthy enough to undergo a major heart surgery.
Modern TAVR devices consist of a stent component, which forces open the damaged valve and keeps the device in position, and a valve component that regulates flow like a natural heart valve.
Left atrial appendage closure (the Watchman procedure) is a minimally invasive medical procedure that is used to reduce stroke risk in certain individuals with atrial fibrillation. The procedure involves the delivery of an implant device that seals off the left atrial appendage, thereby preventing clots from escaping the appendage and traveling to the brain.
Left atrial appendage closure is used to help prevent stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, and can eliminate the need to take anticoagulants (blood thinners).
Thermal vein ablation, also called endovenous ablation, is a minimally invasive medical procedure that involves the elimination of a diseased vein by application of thermal energy to the inside of the vein.
Vein ablation is used to treat varicose veins in the legs - sometimes for cosmetic reasons but more often to help manage chronic venous disease. Closing down varicose veins with ablation treatment helps to reroute blood flow through nearby healthy veins, and can help improve symptoms of chronic venous disease.
