What Conditions Are Treated by Interventional Cardiology?

Interventional cardiology is a field that utilizes nonsurgical, catheter-based treatments to repair narrowed arteries, damaged or weakened blood vessels, heart valve disorders, and congenital heart disease. An interventional cardiologist:

• Evaluates your medical history and performs a physical exam to assess blood pressure and vital signs, heart health, blood vessel function and lung health
• Orders and interprets imaging and lab tests
• Prescribes medications to treat heart disease and structural heart conditions
• Diagnoses and treats conditions and diseases impacting your heart and blood vessels
• Screens, monitors, and treats conditions that increase your risk of heart disease
• Works alongside your primary care doctor and other members of your medical team to ensure your cardiology treatments align with your healthcare regimen

In addition, if you need your medical records for legal information, a notary must witness that the copy is the same as the original. Those who are looking to notarize their documents may consider searching for a notary public close to me online.

When Should I See an Interventional Cardiologist?

General heart health issues and conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which increase your risk for heart disease, can be managed by your primary care doctor. When a serious heart or blood vessel issue arises, you may need to consult an interventional cardiologist.

In addition, you should schedule an appointment with an interventional cardiologist if you:

• Experience changes in EKG testing that indicates a blockage to your coronary artery
• Require specialized heart treatments such as cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, or heart valve repair
• Require specialized care for a heart disease issue such as heart attack, unstable angina, or heart valve disease

Conditions Treated

Common conditions treated by interventional cardiology include:

• Angina – Chest pain that occurs when your arteries become narrowed from coronary heart disease
• Heart attack – Blood clots block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart
• ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) – A serious type of heart attack that occurs when one of your heart’s arteries is blocked
• Arrhythmia – An abnormal heart rhythm (your heart may beat foo slow, too fast, or irregularly)
• Heart failure – A condition that occurs when your heart isn’t strong enough to pump a sufficient supply of blood throughout your body
• Cardiomyopathy – An enlargement or weakening of your heart muscle
• Heart valve disorders – Abnormalities in the valves responsible for preventing blood from flowing in the wrong direction through your heart
• Congenital heart defects – Heart issues occurring at birth, such as patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect
• Myocarditis – Heart inflammation

Common Treatments Performed by Our Interventional Cardiologists

Our interventional cardiology team utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach when designing your care plan to ensure you receive the best possible treatment. When you visit our Structural Heart Clinic, we’ll perform all diagnostic testing necessary to create a truly customized treatment plan.

Depending on your specific condition, our interventional cardiologists may recommend one of the following minimally invasive therapies:

• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) – This procedure replaces a damaged aortic valve caused by severe aortic stenosis. During your procedure, a catheter is inserted into your groin in order to place a stent-like device across the aortic valve to widen the opening.
• MitraClip – This treatment is an excellent option for individuals suffering from moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation, a condition where the heart valve doesn’t close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the upper chamber of the heart. During your procedure, a catheter is run from your leg to your heart in order to place the MitraClip device. This allows the mitral valve to close more fully, decreasing the backflow of blood in your heart.
• Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion – This procedure is an excellent solution for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients who aren’t able to tolerate long-term use of blood thinners. A permanent implant is placed to reduce the risk of stroke and bleeding associated with common blood thinners.
• Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure – This procedure closes a hole between the upper chambers of the heart in order to minimize the risk of stroke.
• WATCHMAN™ Devise Implant– Watchman is a permanent implant that offers an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners and may reduce the risk of stroke.

Schedule an Appointment

Please contact us today to schedule an appointment at our Structural Heart Clinic. South Denver Cardiology Associates serves patients in Denver, Littleton, and throughout the surrounding areas of Colorado.

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South Denver Cardiology

Randy Cupps Graduated from Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado, in 1983 with a degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology. Randy started his medical career in 1980 as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) working on an ambulance and in an emergency room. He then joined South Denver Cardiology in 1986 when it was South Denver Cardiac Rehabilitation as an Exercise Physiologist conducting a wide variety of Graded Exercise Testing on a diverse patient population. Randy continues to keep his EMT current, and he is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. In 2012 Randy acquired the role of business development, marketing, and physician relations manager at SDCA.

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