Out Patient Procedures

CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION

A coronary catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure to access the coronary circulation and blood filled chambers of the heart using a catheter. It is performed for both diagnostic and interventional (treatment) purposes.

64 SLICE CT CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Requiring little more than an injection of x-ray contrast through an IV placed in the arm, the speed and resolution of 64-Slice CT angiography allows physicians to view even the smallest of arteries in the brain, heart, and peripheral vascular system. Setting a new standard, 64-Slice CT offers patients an alternative to traditional angiography.

CORONARY STENTING

The main purpose of a stent is to counteract significant decreases in vessel or duct diameter by acutely propping open the conduit by a mechanical scaffold or stent. Stents are often used to alleviate diminished blood flow to organs and extremities beyond an obstruction in order to maintain an adequate delivery of oxygenated blood. The most widely known use of stents is inside the coronary arteries.

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY TESTING

An electrophysiologic study (EPS) is one of a number of tests of the electrical conduction system of the heart performed by a cardiac electrophysiologist. These tests are performed using catheters situated within the heart. (A Cardiac Electrophysiologist is a specialist in the electrical conduction system of the heart.)

ARRHYTHMIA ABLATION

Ablation therapy using radio frequency waves on the heart is used to cure a variety of cardiac arrhythmias such as supraventricular tachycardia, WPW syndrome, ventricular tachycardia and more recently atrial fibrillation.

CAROTID STENTING

Carotid stenting (CAS) is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure available to correct carotid stenosis (narrowing of the carotid artery lumen by atheroma). Carotid stenosis can present with no symptoms (diagnosed incidentally) or through symptoms such as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs, strokes). In a number of clinical trials, the rates of stroke and death have been noninferior or slightly lower than the current "gold standard" approach, carotid endarterectomy.

RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY

A biventricular pacemaker, also known as CRT (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) is a type of pacemaker that can pace both ventricles (right and left) of the heart. By pacing both sides of the heart, the pacemaker can resynchronize a heart that does not beat in synchrony, which is common in heart failure patients. CRT devices have three leads, one in the atrium, one in the right ventricle, and a final one is inserted through the coronary sinus to pace the left ventricle. CRT devices are shown to reduce mortality and improve quality of life in groups of heart failure patients. CRT can be combined with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) .

IMPLANTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR

Also known as an Automatic Internal Cardiac Defibrillator (AICD). These devices are implants, similar to pacemakers (and many can also perform the pacemaking function). They constantly monitor the patient's heart rhythm, and automatically administer shocks for various life threatening arrhythmias, according to the device's programming. Many modern devices can distinguish between ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and more benign arrhythmias like supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation. Some devices may attempt overdrive pacing prior to synchronised cardioversion. When the life threatening arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation, the device is programmed to proceed immediately to an unsynchronized shock.