| Cardiac
Procedures
The following procedures are often
used in the evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Consult
your physician or heart care professional for more specific information.
Cardiac
procedures for abnormal heart rhythms:
Catheter Ablation
This procedure uses radio waves or freezing to silence an abnormal
area in the heart's electrical system, which is usually found during
an electrophysiology study.
Permanent
Pacemaker
A permanent pacemaker is inserted into the patient's heart and upper
chest to provide a reliable heartbeat when the heart's own rhythm
is too fast, too slow, or irregular. A permanent pacemaker is usually
inserted while the patient is in the electrophysiology lab.
Internal
Cardioverter Defibrillator
A defibrillator is inserted into the patient's heart and chest to
send out a small amount of electricity when needed to jolt heart
rhythm back to normal.
Cardiac
procedures for heart disease:
Coronary
Angioplasty
With this procedure, a catheter is used to create a bigger opening
in the vessel to increase blood flow. Although angioplasty is performed
in other blood vessels, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty
(PTCA) refers to angioplasty in the coronary arteries to permit
more blood flow into the heart. There are several types of PTCA
procedures, including:
- balloon angioplasty - a small balloon
is inflated inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area.
- atherectomy - the blocked area inside
the artery is "shaved" away by a tiny device on the
end of a catheter.
- laser angioplasty - a laser used to "vaporize"
the blockage in the artery.
- coronary artery stent - a tiny coil is
expanded inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area and
is left in place to keep the artery open.
Coronary
Artery Bypass
A surgical procedure in which small portions of veins or arteries
are taken from one part of the body and transplanted into the heart
to bypass clogged coronary arteries of the heart.
Heart
Transplant
A surgical procedure for selected patients whose hearts are so severely
damaged that medications, procedures, and surgical repair cannot
help. A donated heart is transplanted into the patient to replace
the damaged heart.
Cardiac
procedures for valve disease:
Valvuloplasty
A procedure in which a catheter with a large balloon is used to
open a heart valve that has become narrowed usually as the result
of scarring. The catheter is guided through the aorta to the valve,
and once in place within the leaflets, the balloon is inflated until
the leaflets are loosened. The balloon is then deflated and withdrawn
from the body.
Valve Repair
A surgical procedure in which a damaged valve is repaired by
loosening stiff valve leaflets or tightening loose valve leaflets.
Valve
Replacement
In this surgical procedure, a mechanical or tissue valve is transplanted
into the heart to replace the damaged valve.
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