Interventional Cardiology

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Interventional cardiology procedures are used to treat conditions that cause narrowing or blockages in your blood vessel that impair blood flow, including:

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke

At New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC), interventional cardiology is performed in our Cardiac Catheterization Lab.

What Is Interventional Cardiology?

Interventional cardiology treatments focus on unclogging blocked arteries using minimally invasive tools and techniques to restore blood flow throughout your body.

Skilled in Interventional Cardiology Procedures

Surgeons at NHRMC are skilled in a variety of interventional cardiac procedures, including:

  • Atherectomy
  • Coronary angioplasty
  • Stent placement
  • Intravascular ultrasound
  • Fractional flow reserve

What to Expect

Learn what happens during an interventional cardiology procedure and the recovery time.

During

You will remain awake during the procedure. However, you will receive a sedative to help you relax and an injection to numb the incision site. Your surgeon makes a small incision in your leg and inserts a catheter (small, flexible tube) into the artery. Using real-time X-ray images, your surgeon guides the catheter to your coronary (heart) arteries.

Once the catheter reaches the blockage, your surgeon may perform a procedure using a balloon, stent (mesh tube), or other surgical tool that is placed on the tip of the catheter.

After

Patients typically remain in the hospital for 3-5 days, and it normally takes 2-4 weeks to fully recover. Your doctor will discuss with you the specific details of returning to your normal activities.