Cardiac catheterizations

A broad range of minimally invasive diagnostic procedures and treatments are performed at Community Hospital by three highly experienced interventional cardiologists.

Cath lab procedures

• Angiogram — To diagnose blockages in the arteries
• Stent and balloon angioplasty — Insertion of a metal stent or balloon to open blockages and restore blood blow to the heart
• Atherectomy — Removal of plaque from artery walls using a blade on a catheter

Structural heart procedures

• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) — Replacing valves through a catheter, instead of opening the chest
• Valvuloplasty — Inserting a balloon into a valve that doesn’t open properly, to widen it
• Transcatheter mitral valve repair — Placing a clip to help close a leak that sometimes develops between the heart’s two left chambers
• Patent foramen ovale closures — Closing holes in the wall separating the heart’s chambers
• Treatment of left atrial appendage occlusion — Implanting a device called a Watchman to block blood clots from entering the left atrium, reducing the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and the need for blood thinners
• Treatment of coronary artery total occlusion — Opening blocked arteries with balloons and/or stents

Our interventional cardiologists