Interventional cardiology is a subspecialty of cardiology involving minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular diseases. Interventional cardiology procedures are done in a cardiac catheterization lab by heart specialists called interventional cardiologists.
Interventional cardiologists diagnose and treat:
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart valve disease
- Congenital heart disease
- Vascular disease
Interventional Cardiology Procedures
Interventional cardiology procedures may include the following:
Coronary angiography: a procedure that uses a special dye and x-rays to see how blood flows through your heart.
Angioplasty: a procedure to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries).
Inserting heart stents: A heart stent is a tiny tube placed into an artery to hold the artery open. It is normally placed inside a coronary artery following balloon angioplasty.
Radial cardiac catheterization: This is a special type of cardiac catheterization in which the catheter is inserted through an artery in your wrist rather than other areas such as the groin. At Wake Forest Baptist, radial catheterization has become our preferred approach for cardiac catheterization. We perform 70 percent of diagnostic catheterization procedures through the radial artery, totaling more than 2,000 procedures each year.
Interventional Cardiology Team
Wake Forest Baptist Health has a team of interventional cardiologists, including a pediatric interventional cardiologist, who perform all types of interventional cardiology procedures. The team's philosophy is to use minimally invasive procedures whenever possible to ensure the best possible outcome for patients.
If you are referred to Wake Forest Baptist Health, you'll be assigned an attending cardiologist who will become the key contact for you, your family and your referring physician. Your cardiologist will stay in close communication with you and your primary care physician to provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to care.
