Diagnostic and Treatment Q&A

What is a Cardiac/Cath?

Cardiac Catherization is a special x-ray test.  It is done to find the spot where a coronary artery is clogged.

An angiogram is done to see how clogged the artery is and to see if additional procedures such as angioplasty (An'-jee-o-PLAS-tee), coronary artery bypass surgery or medical therapy are needed. 

 

What is angioplasty?

Angioplasty opens blocked arteries and allows blood to flow to the heart muscle.  Angioplasty is not surgery, but is done through cardiac catheterization.  It opens a clogged coronary artery by inflating a tiny balloon inside the artery and pushing aside the blockage.

 

What is a coronary stent?

A stent is a small metal mesh tube that is placed in a coronary artery to keep it open.  Stents are used to reduce the chance of the closing of an artery or blockage in the heart.  

 

What is Rotational Atherectomy?

This procedure is done with rotablator, a long catheter with a tiny olive-shaped burr at the end.  It is used for treating blockages in the arteries that are comprised of hard plaque.  These blockages are very stiff and hard due to calcium deposits.  The rotablator spins rapidly against the plaque, removing it in tiny amounts to open up the blockage.  The very small particles wash out of your artery and are reabsorbed in the body.

 

What is a Stress Test?

A stress test, sometimes called a treadmill test or exercise test, helps doctors find out how well a heart handles work.  The test can show if there is a lack of blood supply through the arteries that go to the heart.  The results of your stress test may help your doctor decide if heart disease is present, and if so, to what extent.

 

What is Echocardiography?

Echocardiography, also called an echo test, takes "moving pictures" of the heart with sound waves.  This test is done to detect problems with the heart and also gives information about the structures of the heart, such as the heart valves.

 

What is TEE (TransEsophageal Echocardiogram)?

A TransEsophageal Echo requires a doctor to pass a flexible tube (scope) through the mouth and into the esophagus to obtain more information about your heart.

 

What is Cardioversion?

Cardioversion is a non-surgical procedure used to change the heartbeat from irregular rhythm to a normal, regular rhythm.  Small amounts of electrical current can often restore the heart to a normal rhythm.

 

What are ElectrPhysiologic Tests (EP)?

ElectroPhysiologic (EP) tests are taken to find out why a heart is not beating in a regular way.  These tests study the electrical flow in your heart.  

 

What is cardiac ablation?

Cardiac ablation is a procedure used to correct an irregular rhythm and get a heart to beat the right way. One or more catheters are put in one or more veins. On the end of the catheter is a tip that will burn the part of the heart muscle that is causing the abnormal rhythm.

 

What is a Pacemaker?

A pacemaker is a small device that uses batteries to help a heart maintain a regular beat.  It does this with a small electric shock that helps control the heartbeat.  A pacemaker is implanted under the skin on the chest, just under the collarbone, and is connected to the heart with tiny wires called leads.

 

What is a Cardiac Defibrillation?

Cardiac Defibrillation is a way to return an abnormally fast or disorganized heart beat back to normal with electric shock.  An Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) is a lifesaving device that is put inside the body much like a permanent cardiac pacemaker.