Interventional Cardiology | Baylor Scott & White Health

Interventional cardiologist reviewing patient's treatment options on a tablet as they sit together

What is interventional cardiology?

Interventional cardiology is a specialized field of heart care that uses minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat heart and vascular conditions. Unlike traditional heart surgeries that require large incisions in your chest, interventional procedures can be performed through small incisions in your groin or wrist using a small tube called a catheter.

Interventional cardiologists work in specialized examination rooms known as cardiac catheterization (cath) labs.

What conditions does interventional cardiology treat?

Aneurysm
Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the coronary arteries)
Carotid artery disease
Chronic venous disease
Congenital heart diseases, such as atrial and ventricular septal defects
Congestive heart failure
Coronary artery disease
Deep vein thrombosis
Heart attack
Heart valve diseases, such as aortic stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Pulmonary hypertension

Cardiac catheterization to diagnose a heart condition

Catheter-based procedures can give your interventional cardiologist a more accurate picture of your heart health to determine which condition you have. During cardiac catheterization, a catheter is inserted into the body through the groin or the wrist. Your interventional cardiologist guides the catheter to your heart or a blood vessel to identify any problems, such as artery blockages or valve defects, and treat them effectively.

Procedures that might be performed during a cardiac catheterization include:

Angiogram, which uses dyes to reveal blockages or narrowing in your heart’s arteries
Angioplasty and stenting to open narrowed or blocked arteries
Biopsies (samples) of heart tissue
Checking for problems with your heart’s valves, chambers and major arteries
Measuring pressure and oxygen levels in your heart
Seeing how well your heart pumps

Treating heart conditions with interventional cardiology

Angioplasty and stenting

During this procedure, your interventional cardiologist guides a catheter with a balloon to an artery that has become blocked or narrowed, often due to plaque buildup. Your physician inflates the balloon to clear the blockage and allow blood to flow freely. Once the balloon has cleared the blockage, a stent (a wire mesh tube) keeps the artery open long-term.

Your interventional cardiologist may use a drug-eluting stent, a special type of device that contains medications to reduce the risk of scar tissue forming around the stent.

Benefits of interventional cardiology

Interventional cardiology procedures offer an alternative to traditional, open-heart surgery, which requires a surgeon to make a large incision in the chest and open the rib cage to operate on the heart. These procedures use only tiny incisions to insert a catheter into the body, requiring shorter recovery times and hospital stays and often having a lower risk of complications.

Cardiologist smiling and reassuring older female patient lying in a hospital bed after an intervent

What to expect

You’ll receive instructions from your cardiologist’s office before having an interventional cardiology procedure. Before the procedure, you will likely need to have testing, including blood tests and imaging scans.

You’ll also receive instructions about whether to continue taking your medications and when to begin fasting before the procedure. Talk with your care team about any questions and what you need to know before the procedure.

Depending on the condition treated and recovery progress, you could be discharged home within a day after certain interventional cardiology procedure.

When you’re discharged, you’ll receive a set of at-home care instructions. These instructions will include guidance about signs of complications you should watch for and when it’s safe to resume normal activities. Carefully follow these instructions to ensure you heal quickly and completely.

Older man at home holding a glass of water in one hand and a packet of medication in the other afte

Find a location near you

You can find our interventional cardiology services at our locations across North and Central Texas. Our interventional cardiologists work in well-equipped cardiac cath labs and hybrid labs that combine cardiac catheterization procedures and heart surgery. We’ll help you find a clinic that matches your needs.

Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Associates - Southwest Fort Worth

5701 Bryant Irvin Rd Ste 302, Fort Worth, TX, 76132

Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Associates - Southwest Fort Worth

5701 Bryant Irvin Rd Ste 302, Fort Worth, TX, 76132

What is interventional cardiology?

What conditions does interventional cardiology treat?

Cardiac catheterization to diagnose a heart condition

Procedures that might be performed during a cardiac catheterization include:

Treating heart conditions with interventional cardiology

Angioplasty and stenting

Benefits of interventional cardiology

What to expect

Find a location near you

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