Coronary artery disease is the buildup of cholesterol and plaque in the arteries of the heart, which can lead to chest pain and/or heart attacks. Using high-resolution CT imaging, our team of interventional cardiologists are able to efficiently diagnose coronary artery disease. We then treat severe blockages by performing a cardiac catheterization procedure – primarily through the artery in the wrist – and placing a stent to restore blood flow to the heart. For complex coronary disease, we support the heart muscle with an Impella device – a temporary machine placed in the heart to help it pump better, which is then removed at the end of the procedure.

Peripheral vascular interventions are minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures used to open blockages in the arteries of the leg caused by cholesterol plaque deposits. The restoration of blood flow alleviates leg pain, facilitates wound healing, and prevents the need for future limb amputations. These procedures are performed by our highly experienced and innovative team of peripheral endovascular specialists in an ambulatory setting, without the need for hospitalization.

Chronic venous insufficiency is a group of conditions resulting in enlarged or varicose veins in the legs, which make it difficult for blood to return to the heart.

The superficial venous system
We address this condition using a combination of treatments starting with compression stockings, leg elevation or weight loss. If any of these do not provide relief, your physician can offer you non-surgical treatment using thermal ablation therapy, which uses heat to “close off” the problematic veins so that blood can circulate in your healthy veins.

The deep venous system
This is targeted to the veins in your pelvic area, which may be narrowed due to a history of blood clots or from being “compressed.” The treatments used are similar to superficial venous insufficiency, however, your physician may also offer you non-surgical treatments such as blood thinner medication and/or stent placement.

Venous thromboembolism takes the form of pulmonary embolism (dangerous clots that break off and travel to the lungs) and deep venous thrombosis (clots in the legs or other large veins that can cause pain and long-term damage to leg circulation). Our expert endovascular interventional cardiologist uses techniques to remove blood clots with catheters to restore blood flow and prevent complications from dangerous blood clots in the future.

Carotid artery disease and stenosis involves the accumulation of obstructive cholesterol plaque deposits in the carotid artery – the principal blood vessel that delivers oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the brain. When severe, these blockages may deprive the brain of oxygen and cause strokes. Carotid artery stenting involves placing a short metal tube to open these obstructions and mitigates the need for more invasive surgical treatment.

This is a minimally invasive procedure that implants a short metal tube to open a narrowing in the subclavian artery – one of the body’s central blood vessels. Improved blood flow in the vessel can restore diminished blood flow to the brainstem, improving symptoms of dizziness and potentially loss of consciousness. Additionally, if prior heart bypass surgery has been performed, the procedure can also improve circulation to arteries in the heart.

An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal enlargement of the aorta – the largest artery in the body. When large enough, it can leak or rupture and lead to dangerous internal bleeding. Our expert endovascular interventional cardiologists can safely and effectively treat this by placing aortic stents in the aorta to seal the aneurysm without surgery and hospitalization. This same non-surgical technique can be used to repair blockages in the aorta to restore blood flow to the lower part of the body.

Aortic stenosis is the progressive narrowing of the aortic valve over time, which makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. TAVR is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure performed by our structural heart disease specialists. An alternative to open heart surgery, this procedure involves replacing the narrowed aortic valve with a catheter through the groin. TAVR ensures safety, efficacy, and a quick recovery for patients, making it a preferred treatment for severe aortic stenosis.

Mitral regurgitation is a condition causing leakage of the mitral valve, allowing blood to flow backwards into the heart. The MitraClip procedure is a minimally invasive treatment option performed through a catheter in the groin. This is used to repair the leaking mitral valve by clipping both of its edges together. Unlike open heart surgery, patients are commonly discharged the next day with minimal recovery time and post-procedural complications.

Atrial fibrillation, the most common abnormal heart rhythm in the elderly, is a condition that requires blood thinners to prevent the associated risk of stroke. The LAA procedure is minimally invasive and seals off part of the heart to prevent the formation of blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation. This procedure allows patients with high bleeding risk to stop using blood thinners, while still minimizing the risk of stroke.

Abnormal heart rhythms can result in shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest. Cardioversion is a corrective procedure that uses quick, low-energy shocks to restore a regular heart rhythm. If patients are experiencing a stable but abnormal rhythm, this procedure can bring it back to normal. It is mostly performed for common arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

Arrhythmias can cause significant symptoms for the patient and sometimes do not respond to medical therapy alone. This minimally invasive procedure is designed to interrupt abnormal electrical circuits in the heart that cause rhythm disturbances. By delivering radiofrequency waves to the part of the heart that harbors the abnormal circuit, the arrhythmia can be successfully treated.

A loop recorder is a small, implantable device that records your heart rate and rhythm on a long-term basis. It’s implanted under the skin overlying the heart and enables our specialists to remotely monitor the patient’s heartbeat. The need for long-term monitoring is necessary as the majority of heart rhythm disorders are transitory.

A pacemaker is a small device implanted in the left upper chest call to help keep the heart rate from dropping too low. Most pacemakers have a battery with wires (“leads”) that lead into the various chambers of the heart where the electrical pulse is delivered. There is a new pacemaker available that involves implanting a small generator battery directly into heart muscle without any leads required.

A defibrillator is a battery powered device that functions both as a pacemaker and a shocking system to immediately correct unstable heart rhythms. After a successful shock, the heart will begin to experience a normal rhythm. Similar to pacemakers, defibrillators are typically implanted in the left upper chest wall.