A catheter is a small, flexible tube that cardiologists can use to diagnose and treat medical concerns in the heart and arteries. The tube can be inserted into a blood vessel where it can support other equipment for a cardiovascular specialist. This will allow medical professionals to garner information regarding the heart and repair potential problems.
Catheterization can provide many functions on its own. But this process can also play a role in other treatments related to the heart and blood vessels. Buckeye Heart and Vascular Institute, a cardiovascular specialist office located in Dayton, OH, lists four medical procedures that can utilize cardiac catheters.
Catheterization in Cardiac Treatment
Angioplasty
Angioplasty refers to a type of surgery in which a cardiovascular specialist repairs or unblocks an artery or other blood vessel. If an artery is too narrow, the surgeon can use a small balloon to expand it and improve the blood flow.
The balloon is attached to the end of a catheter and inflated through the tube. Once the treatment and procedure are complete, the specialist will deflate the balloon and remove it, along with the catheter, from the vessel. They may leave a stent in the artery to prevent it from narrowing again.
Heart Valve Procedures
A cardiologist can perform a similar surgery using a balloon and catheter to widen and repair a heart valve. This type of procedure is called balloon valvuloplasty.
Your heart specialist can treat heart valve disease, or dysfunction in one or more of the valves in the heart, using cardiac catheterization. This process can assist a doctor in repairing a valve, such as patching a hole or reconnecting or separating flaps. They may also utilize it when replacing a damaged heart valve.
Cardiac Ablation
Heart doctors will utilize catheters during a cardiac ablation procedure too. In this surgery, a specialist will use the catheters to transmit energy and create minute scarring in the heart’s tissue. These scars redistribute the electric signals that make the heart beat in order to correct irregularities related to arrhythmia.
Coronary Angiogram
Catheterization assists with diagnostic cardiac procedures as well, including a coronary angiogram. Heart doctors recommend this type of imaging in patients with a risk of artery blockages.
The doctor injects dye through a catheter that will travel through the blood vessels. They can locate any blockages using x-ray imaging taken during the examination. This tool is also useful in collecting tissue samples for biopsies, evaluating the heart’s function, and analyzing oxygen levels and other factors within the heart.
Cardiac Diagnostics and Treatment in Dayton, OH
Buckeye Heart and Vascular Institute offers cardiac catheterizations and other services for diagnosing and treating disorders in the cardiovascular system. If you are recovering from a cardiovascular issue, do not hesitate to reach our team of vascular and heart experts. To schedule an appointment with our practice, contact our office by phone at 937.203.8602 or reach a member of our staff online.