Cardiology

Some risk factors for heart disease are out of your control, including heredity and gender aspects. However, most instances of heart disease are preventable. Risk factors you can control include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes

We are well-equipped to provide a wide range of cardiology services, including basic diagnostic testing and complex treatments for a heart attack.

Our hospital has received certification in disease-specific care for chest pain by The Joint Commission. Not only were we one of the first hospitals in Nevada to offer comprehensive pediatric heart surgery for congenital (present at birth) heart abnormalities, but our pediatric and adult arrhythmia center made us one of the first hospitals in the state to offer electrophysiology procedures to children. Finally, we have seven cardiac catheterization labs where we treat many different types of heart disease.

Heart arrhythmia treatment

Electrical currents and signals cause your heart to pump blood and contract. If there is something wrong with these, your heart can pump too fast, too slow or irregularly.

We treat many types of arrhythmia and other disorders of the heart's electrical system in our electrophysiology labs.

Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC)

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) occurs when the two upper chambers in your heart beat in an abnormal pattern that is faster than normal. This scenario can decrease the amount of oxygen your body receives.

Blood may collect in a small sac in your heart, called the left atrial appendage, due to AFib. Clots may form there, and if a clot breaks loose and travels to your brain, it can cause a stroke. We offer a special program to treat complications from AFib, and it includes a LAAC implant.

Our doctors can seal off your left atrial appendage by inserting a parachute-shaped device into the opening, and expanding it so that no blood can collect there.

Heart attack treatment

A heart attack occurs when plaque or cholesterol blocks one or more of the arteries connected to your heart. Your heart muscle can die due to the lack of blood flow that occurs in this scenario.

Our hybrid operating room (OR) is designed to accommodate leading-edge heart procedures. The design allows our heart disease specialists to perform cardiac catheterization procedures and surgeries in the same operating room — saving vital time. This hybrid OR was among the first of its kind in Southern Nevada.

Heart failure treatment

Heart failure happens when your heart cannot pump enough blood efficiently because it is too stiff or weak. Conditions, such as narrowed arteries in your heart or high blood pressure, can eventually lead to heart failure. While heart failure cannot be fully cured, it can be effectively managed.

We can implant a small device into your pulmonary artery to measure your blood pressure and heart rate. The device sends this data wirelessly to your team of specialists, who monitor it and will recommend changing your treatment if necessary.

Heart valve disease treatment

Heart valves open and close to allow blood to flow through your heart. When something happens to these valves, either through disease or a congenital abnormality, blood cannot flow properly throughout your body. If this condition is not treated, it can cause heart rhythm problems, blood clots or heart failure.

We offer several procedures to treat heart valve issues, including:

• Blocked or leaky valve replacement — This procedure replaces a blocked or leaky valve that was previously repaired, using a bioprosthetic valve at the end of a balloon catheter.
• Heart murmur testing and treatment — These tests measure the sounds that blood can make flowing through the heart, which can either be harmless or a sign of something more serious.
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) — TAVR is a minimally invasive treatment for a narrowed aortic valve that fails to open properly. We use a catheter to implant a replacement valve into the opening without removing the old valve. Once the new valve expands, it pushes the old valve leaflets out of the way and the tissue in the replacement valve begins regulating blood flow.
• Transcatheter mitral valve therapy — This treatment targets mitral regurgitation, a condition in which your heart's mitral valve does not close tightly. This allows blood to flow backward in your heart.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment

We are home to one of Nevada's first comprehensive ECMO programs, providing treatment for adult and pediatric patients.

In addition, our hospital has the distinction of being among Nevada's first Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) member. ELSO is the world's leading source of data on people receiving ECMO. ELSO governs and credits ECMO centers around the world. We are proud to have our program distinguished by ELSO's Pathway to Excellence — Silver Level ranking, exclusive to Nevada.

What is ECMO?

ECMO is a life support technology for people with severe heart and lung issues. Our technology allows your heart and lungs to rest and recover from any illness, disease and injury your body has sustained. Through an oxygenator, which functions as the heart and lungs, blood is supplied with oxygen and pumped back into the body to help improve the impaired function.

Conditions that ECMO can treat

ECMO can aid in treating several conditions, including:

• Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• "Bridge" to transplant
• Burns (caused by smoke inhalation)
• Cardiogenic shock
• Heart attack
• Myocarditis
• Pulmonary embolism
• Respiratory failure
• Sepsis

How long you can receive ECMO?

You might receive ECMO for several days, weeks or months. Our team will continuously evaluate your progress and base the length of time on that.

Sedation versus being awake on ECMO

We will sedate you initially when we put you on ECMO. When appropriate, our goal is to awaken and mobilize you, aiding in your recovery.

Team of ECMO professionals

ECMO is invasive and can be taxing on your body. For this reason, we have a multidisciplinary team that takes excellent care of you throughout treatment. Our specialized ECMO team includes:

• Doctors and surgeons
• Nurses
• Perfusionists
• Pharmacists
• Physical therapists
• Respiratory therapists