Cardiology

Our noninvasive testing unit helps doctors accurately assess your cardiovascular health. Through our advanced imaging and extraction techniques, we can see the condition of your heart and its surrounding parts in great detail.

Echocardiography

During an echocardiogram, we use ultrasound images to show clear pictures of the walls, chambers and size of your heart. Doctors may perform a transesophageal echocardiography exam if they want to have a closer look at your heart from inside your esophagus. These ultrasound images can give them more information about problems with the walls or chambers of your heart.

Electrocardiograms (EKGs)

We are able to utilize EKGs to perform a series of tests that look at possible heart issues. Some of the tests we perform include:

• 12-lead EKG — A 12-lead EKG is a recording of your heart's electrical signals. This recording will give your physician information to show any potential problems with your heart's electrical system. Sometimes they may order a Holter or event monitor for you to wear for a more extended period.
• Cardiac stress test — A stress test allows your physician to see how your heart responds to exercise. This test uses a treadmill or medication to intentionally speed up your heart rate. At times, your doctor will order an echocardiogram.
• Tilt table test — Our physicians perform a tilt table test to find out why you might be fainting. During the exam, they may try to recreate the symptoms you have when you faint to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Pericardiocentesis

Our heart and vascular specialists use pericardiocentesis to analyze fluid around the heart. The test can detect signs of infection, inflammation and the presence of blood or cancer.

Vascular ultrasounds

Vascular ultrasounds give your physician information about the arteries and veins in your body, including the blood vessels in your brain, neck and lower legs. These images also help to show how fast your blood is moving through your vessels.

Our clinical staff can also perform an ankle-brachial index (ABI) test, which uses an ultrasound device to detect peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and possible blockages, aneurysms, tears, blood clots and varicose veins.

Cardiac catheterization involves inserting a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart. This can be used both as a diagnostic and treatment tool. Some of the cardiac catheterization procedures we perform include:

• Angiograms — An angiogram enables your physician to evaluate the heart to determine how well it's working. When adopted quickly, an angiogram minimizes your potential for permanent muscle damage during a heart attack.
• Endomyocardial biopsies — Using a catheter, this type of biopsy of the heart muscle can detect inflammation or tumors within the heart.
• Fractional flow reserve (FFR) — Additionally, we use FFR, a minimally invasive technique our physicians use when they want to see if your blockage is obstructing the flow of oxygen to the heart muscle. The wire's pressure sensor can measure blood pressure and flow through a specific part of the coronary artery.
• Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) — Our physicians can also perform a catheter-based IVUS when they want more information about a blockage. Using sounds waves, this type of test shows them the condition from inside the vessel, using an ultrasound probe at the end of a catheter to clearly view the inner walls of the coronary artery.
• Peripheral angiography — This procedure involves using a dye to find any narrowed areas of a blood vessel. Our doctors can then widen the blood vessel with an angioplasty procedure, or by administering medication to improve blood flow.

If you need surgery, our expertly trained surgeons treat and correct cardiovascular disease using the latest procedures, including:

• Aortic aneurysm repair using an endovascular stent
• Dialysis access
• Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery
• Peripheral vascular surgery
• Venous insufficiency treatment

Angioplasty and stent placement

When a blockage in your coronary artery becomes serious, our doctors will perform an angioplasty to insert a balloon catheter into the affected area. The balloon is designed to open, pressing the plaque against the artery wall and allowing blood to flow freely again. We may also perform an atherectomy at the same time, which removes plaque from the wall of the artery.

Stents are small metal tubes that go into coronary arteries during or after angioplasty, helping to decrease the chance that a blockage will reoccur. During the procedure, we will insert a stent on a balloon catheter and expand it to open the blockage in the coronary artery.

Aortic balloon valvuloplasty

An aortic balloon valvuloplasty uses a thin flexible catheter to widen a narrow aortic valve opening. The balloon goes through the groin or arm. Once we place it into the narrowed heart valve, the balloon inflates and widens the valve.

Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC)

Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a type of heart arrhythmia that can lead to blood pooling in the left atrial appendage (LAA), also known as a sac located at the top of the heart’s upper left chamber. The pooling blood can cause clots to form, increasing the risk of stroke.

Our facility was among the first hospitals in the region to offer an alternative to long-term medication, with a new left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) device. The LAAO device closes the opening to the LAA so blood cannot collect there. Over time, you may be able to stop taking blood thinners.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure

Percutaneous closure is a surgical procedure used to treat PFO, which is a type of hole in the heart that doesn't close after birth. Advancements in device technology and image guidance allow our heart specialists to use a catheter to perform this noninvasive surgery.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

If one of our cardiac surgeons determines you are at high risk or too sick for traditional heart surgery, and medicine doesn't help, TAVR allows a new valve to replace your diseased aortic valve while your heart is still beating. This procedure is done by an interventional cardiologist.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR)

TMVR is a minimally invasive alternative to traditional valve repair surgery. With TMVR, an interventional cardiologist can repair a leaky mitral valve using one or more small clip-like devices that are placed on the mitral valve to decrease the leaking. This nearly three-hour procedure is done without stopping your heart and only requires a couple days of recovery in the hospital.

Cardiac rehabilitation can play an important role in your recovery after a heart event or surgery. Participating in our physical therapy program allows you to resume normal activities as quickly as possible. This form of therapy may be useful for those who have or have had:

• Chronic stable angina
• Congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
• Coronary revascularization, including angioplasty and stent
• Heart attack
• Heart transplantation
• Severe coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Valve surgery

Outpatient heart rehab care

Letting you recover while living in the comfort of your own home, our outpatient program is designed to help you confidently resume your normal activities as quickly as possible. Particularly known for helping those who have had catheter-based cardiac procedures, care begins with a referral from your physician.

Upon admission to our program, you'll receive a manual to help you and your family through your rehabilitation journey. Our goal is to improve your understanding of your condition, enhance your ability to control symptoms and return you to your highest level of activity.

You will begin our program with an orientation, which includes a physical evaluation. Next, our cardiac therapists work with your cardiologist to create a personalized treatment plan for your condition. The care plan is designed to assist you in achieving your goals, providing a foundation for maintaining achievable lifestyle changes.

Our medical management regimen includes information regarding:

• Diagnosis
• Exercise
• Nutrition
• Smoking cessation
• Stress management
• Treatment options
• Weight management

Our goal is to help you learn how to exercise safely in a monitored environment. Throughout the program, you also have access to one-to-one and group classes, which allow you to understand more about your cardiovascular disorder and the practical ways you can manage your personal risk factors.

For more information about our outpatient rehabilitation services, please call (702) 962-7620.