Interventional Cardiology

Procedure

Your interventional procedure will be performed in the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab, or “cath” lab where a full care team will be at your side. At Washington Adventist Hospital, our cardiac team performs thousands of heart catheterizations each year. Our cardiac program has a total of five catheterization labs, with two additional labs dedicated to electrophysiology (EP) procedures. Each lab offers state-of-the art equipment and specially trained staff including a registered nurse (RN) and two technologists. Nurses, technicians, and standby surgical teams are on hand to monitor your condition and treat you at a moment’s notice.

Your procedure will be performed by an interventional cardiologist, who is a licensed cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and has one to two years of advanced training in the use of catheters to perform cardiovascular procedures. Our interventional cardiologists, many of which are board certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology, play an integral role on the cardiac team in delivering you the highest level of quality heart care to help get you back to your daily life.

Recovery

Nurses carefully monitor your condition after your procedure in the recovery area. They are readily available to answer your questions and ensure that you are fully equipped with the knowledge to care for yourself once you leave the hospital. Most angioplasty and stenting procedures allow patients to be discharged from the hospital on the day of or day after the operation.

In order to ensure a seamless recovery, our cardiac team will remain in communication regarding your condition. Your interventional cardiologist, cardiologist, and primary care physician will be in contact regarding the outcome of your procedure so that everyone may stay up to date on your progress and assist in helping you through a successful recovery. Be sure to continue to take your medication as long as instructed by your doctors, even after you begin to feel better.

Our Services

Interventional Cardiology Services

• Left and Right Heart Catheterization
• Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angiography (PTCA)
• Cardiac Stenting
• Directional Coronary Atherectomy
• Thrombectomy
• Intravascular Ultrasound
• Peripheral Arteriograms and Interventions
  • Carotid artery stenting with distal protection
• Vascular Access Site Closure
• Structural Heart Repair
  • Minimally Invasive Valvuloplasty
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Graft Stenting

The Transradial Approach

With a focus on innovative, high-level heart care, Washington Adventist Hospital has become one of the leading hospitals in the area to offer the transradial approach to cardiac catheterizations. This procedure allows doctors to use an artery in the wrist instead of the groin to gain access to heart arteries. Compared to the traditional femoral (thigh) approach, the transradial (wrist) approach is less painful, reduces the risk of bleeding complications, and grants patients immediate mobility after the procedure for a quicker recovery. Most patients can expect to leave the hospital the same day as their procedure. The transradial approach is greatly beneficial for patients who have discomfort while lying down for several hours, such as those with obesity or chronic back pain.

FAQ's

What is PCI?

PCI stands for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, encompassing interventional procedures such as angioplasty and stenting that are less invasive than traditional open heart surgeries.

How are you considered a candidate for PCI?

If you are a heart attack patient, treatments to restore blood flow to your heart are immediately considered; being PCI or cardiac bypass surgery.

Treatment options are then decided on based on the severity of your condition. If you have stable coronary artery disease, your doctor will make this decision based on your medical history, current health condition, and your lifestyle expectations after your procedure.

What is an agioplasty?

Angioplasty is a type of interventional procedure used to widen the coronary artery to allow for blood to flow after a build-up of plaque is found. A stent may be placed within the artery to keep it open.

What are the benefits to having an interventional procedure?

In most cases, patients feel better immediately after the procedure. They experience a quicker recovery period compared to traditional surgery, and may even require less medication. Above all, it is an improvement in lifestyle and a vehicle to getting you back to living your life with comfort and ease.