What Is Interventional Cardiology ?

Interventional cardiology refers to field of medicine that uses catheters for treating heart ailments. The cardiologists that offer this type of treatment are certified and perform the procedure either in a hospital or laboratory. Most procedures related to interventional cardiology are done in the heart, arteries and veins. The procedures are not considered highly invasive as large incisions are not made in the body. The maximum size of the incision is around one inch.

Usually, in an interventional cardiology procedure, a catheter is inserted into the artery located in the upper reaches of the leg. From here, it is then steered towards the heart or blood vessel where the treatment is required. During the steering process, cardiologists make use of images from a real time X-ray.

The reason that interventional cardiology is promoted is that the patient suffers minimal pain, the chances of infection are reduced, the patient does not have big scars and the recovery time after the surgery is reduced. The risk of complications due to anesthesia is also reduced, as patients are given local anesthesia for the procedure. As the procedure can be performed in the outpatient department, patients can go home after a few hours.

A few of the interventional cardiology measures that are regularly undertaken nowadays include the following:

Stents: These are often inserted into blood vessels that are blocked due to plaque formation or blood clot. When blood flow is obstructed, it can result in a stroke or heart attack. So, avert such an incident from occurring, cardiologists insert a stent, which helps to dilate the blood vessel and facilitate blood flow.

Balloon angioplasty: This procedure involves inserting a small balloon and allowing it to inflate in the blood vessel. When the balloon inflates, it pushes the plaque in the blood vessel against the wall and this allows the blood to flow unobstructed. Thereafter the balloon is removed from the vessel.

Correcting congenital heart defects: Babies that are born with congenital heart defects, such as atrial septum defect or ventricular septum defect can be treated with the help interventional cardiology.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator: This tiny implant is inserted into the body in patients who have a chance of suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. The device sends electrical impulse to the heart ensuring that it beats properly in case of a cardiac arrest or irregular beating.

Pacemaker: Patients suffering from slow heart rate, congestive heart failure or those at a risk of going into sudden cardiac arrest can have pacemakers inserted into the body. The device helps to regulate the beating of the heart with the help of electrical impulses. This ensures that the heart pumps blood properly.

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• What Is Interventional Cardiology ?
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Modern Heart Health: What Is Interventional Cardiology?
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