Invasive cardiology
gets its name from the fact that the procedures it uses require breaking the
skin. However, this represents a wide range of procedures, most of which we
would describe as minimally invasive.
Some of the common
procedures performed in invasive cardiology are:
·
Angioplasty
·
Stenting
·
Atherectomy
·
Electrophysiology
studies
·
Implantable
cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement
·
Pacemaker placement
·
Transcatheter Aortic
Valve Replacement (TAVR)
·
MitraClip
Angioplasty usually
refers to balloon angioplasty. A small incision allows a cardiologist to insert
a catheter (narrow tube) with a tiny balloon on the end into the arteries near
the heart. When the catheter encounters arterial plaque – soft deposits that
accumulate in the blood vessels – the cardiologist can inflate the balloon,
squishing the plaque against the arterial walls. This clears the arteries for
improved blood flow.
Often an invasive
cardiologist will follow up by placing stents – tubes for bracing your blood
vessels – in the opened blood vessels. This helps the blood vessels stay open
for long-term healthy blood flow.
Atherectomy is when a
cardiologist uses a special catheter designed to remove plaque from the
arteries. This is either caught in the catheter or ground up small enough to
wash away in the bloodstream safely.
In an
electrophysiology study, an invasive cardiologist will use a different type of
catheter with electrodes that can measure the heart’s electrical currents. This
helps the cardiologist figure out where the heart might be damaged and what is
causing heart arrhythmias.
Invasive cardiology
also includes the placement of devices to improve the function of the heart. An
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) monitors the heart’s rhythm and
delivers an electric current to restore a regular heartbeat. A pacemaker, on
the other hand, is designed to keep the heart from slowing too much. It can
also sense the heart’s rhythm and intervenes when necessary.
Transcatheter Aortic
Valve Replacement (TAVR) uses a device like a stent to create a wider opening
in the aortic valve.
MitraClip is a new
device used to correct the most common heart valve disorder, mitral
regurgitation, in which the mitral valve doesn’t fully close. Instead of
open-heart surgery, a catheter is used to place this clip on the mitral valve,
helping it close better.
Sometimes people, including us, describe this as interventional cardiology or describe
interventional cardiology as a third category which includes some but not all
invasive cardiology procedures.
Non-Invasive Cardiology
Noninvasive cardiology
is cardiology that doesn’t require the cutting or piercing of your skin.
Usually, this focuses on the use of procedures to diagnose heart problems, such
as:
·
Chest x-rays
·
Electrocardiogram (EKG
/ ECG)
·
Echocardiography
·
Heart score test
·
Exercise and stress
tests
Chest x-rays let
cardiologists evaluate the health of the cardiovascular system by letting a
doctor look at the heart and lungs more directly. An electrocardiogram measures
the heart’s electrical activity to help doctors diagnose past heart attacks and
check for arrhythmias.
Echocardiography uses
ultrasound to visualize the heart, including the blood it is pumping. With
echocardiography, a cardiologist can look at the heart’s structures and analyze
their function.
A heart score test measures
the amount of calcium in arterial plaque around the heart. It can help assess
someone’s risk for future heart attacks and strokes.
Exercise and cardiac stress tests are used to watch
how the heart functions under exertion to see whether this hints at any
potential problems.
Noninvasive cardiology
can also include things like wellness coaching, lifestyle modification, and similar
preventive cardiology techniques.
International Research
Awards on Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
More visit: https://cardiology-conferences.pencis.com/
Online Nomination: https://x-i.me/ccmshar21
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