Interventional cardiology

At Advocate Heart Institute, our experienced interventional cardiologists perform thousands of minimally invasive procedures each year. These procedures offer patients a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and speedier return to daily life.

What is interventional cardiology?

Interventional cardiology is a specialized area of cardiology that uses catheters (small, flexible tubes) to diagnose and treat conditions of the cardiovascular system. Specialists insert a catheter into a blood vessel through a small incision in the groin, wrist or neck. Through the blood vessel, the doctor can reach the heart, arms, neck or legs.

Because we create only a small incision, catheter-based techniques are less invasive than open surgical procedures. As a result, patients often go home the same or next day.

At Advocate, our team of interventional cardiologists, surgeons and other specialists evaluate each patient’s case. Together with the patient, they decide whether a minimally invasive procedure is the best treatment option.

Types of interventional cardiology procedures

Our interventional cardiologists use the following procedures and techniques:

Interventional cardiology procedures used for diagnosis

We frequently use catheter-based techniques to diagnose cardiovascular conditions, they include:

• Coronary angiogram: A cardiologist inserts a special dye into the blood vessels of the heart through a catheter under x-ray imaging. The dye helps identify blocked arteries. We also use angiograms to look for blockages in other blood vessels.
• Intravascular ultrasound: Doctors utilize a small ultrasound device attached to the end of the catheter. This device helps them see inside blood vessels and guide interventions.
• Optical coherence tomography: We use this infrared light technology to produce a clear picture of the inside of a blood vessel.
• Pressure-wire testing: Advocate doctors use a special wire inserted through a catheter to measure pressure differences on either side of a blockage. This test, called an instant free wave ratio (IFR), helps assess the severity of the blockage.

Interventional cardiology procedures used for treatment

Advocate cardiologists offer many types of minimally invasive treatments for a wide range of cardiovascular conditions.

Interventional technologies are especially useful for opening blocked arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease) and other blood vessels (peripheral artery disease). Our doctors use the following techniques:

• Atherectomy: If the blockage is calcified, your doctor can use a small drill or laser to open the artery, followed by stent placement.
• Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL): This is a new type of procedure that uses ultrasonic energy to open the blockage so your doctor can place a stent.
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): The doctor inserts a balloon through a catheter to open the artery. They then insert a stent (a metal mesh tube coated with medication) to provide support.

Other catheter-based procedures Advocate physicians perform include:

• Alcohol septal ablation: In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the wall between the two lower chambers of the heart becomes abnormally thickened. The thickening may restrict blood flow. Using a catheter, our physicians reduce the thickened muscle using cold alcohol.
• Atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFD) closure: ASD and PFD are types of congenital heart disease. In both conditions, there is a connection between the right and left sides of the heart that can allow blood from the two sides to mix. Our doctors use patches or plugs to close these.
• Catheter ablation: We use this procedure to treat atrial fibrillation and other abnormal heart rhythms. A doctor utilizes cooling or ultrasonic catheters to ablate the areas of the heart causing the irregular heartbeats. Find out more about cardiac ablation.
• Heart valve repair and replacement: We offer a range of catheter-based procedures and devices to repair or replace the valves of the heart. Some devices are only available through enrollment in clinical trials. Explore all valve repair and replacement options offered through our valvular heart disease program.
• Left atrial appendage closure implant : The left atrial appendage is a pouch off the left upper chamber (atrium) of your heart. Usually, it contracts when your left atrium contracts. In patients with atrial fibrillation, the left atrial appendage may allow blood clots to form. If these clots escape into the bloodstream, they could cause a stroke. To prevent this, a cardiologist can close off this area. Using a catheter, your doctor will work with another specialist called an electrophysiologist to insert a device called a WATCHMAN. Read more about left atrial appendage closure.

Why choose Advocate Heart Institute for interventional cardiology

At Advocate Heart Institute, we provide expert cardiovascular care. Our interventional cardiologists are part of a large, multidisciplinary team of specialists. Together, they offer unmatched:

• Experience: Advocate Heart Institute has one of the top cardiac programs in the U.S. Our high volumes mean our cardiology teams have experience performing all types of procedures and treating all types of conditions.
• Quality: Advocate Health Care has a safety-first culture that permeates every program. We participate in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry that benchmarks our outcomes against other programs.
• Teamwork: Interventional cardiology is a collaborative discipline. Our interventional cardiologists work closely with surgeons, electrophysiologists, radiologists and other specialists to develop customized treatment approaches for each patient.
• Technology: Advocate Heart Institute offers the latest treatments that patients may not find elsewhere in the Chicago area. Because cardiology technology is changing rapidly, we are continuously upgrading our equipment and learning new techniques.