Being told you or a loved one has heart disease can be overwhelming. But we're here for you — with treatment options for severe heart disease. Heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), is a condition that causes the arteries that supply blood to your heart to become narrow or blocked. This is often due to a buildup of fatty material, called plaque, within the walls of the arteries. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke.
Treatment options for heart disease
Heart specialists at Ascension St. Vincent's specialize in treatment options for those with severe heart disease. Your heart doctor starts by listening to you, to better understand you and your health. Then, we work with a team of specialists to create a care plan that's right for you. Your doctor may recommend percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a type of angioplasty that uses a stent. During this minimally invasive procedure, an interventional cardiologist will inflate a small balloon in the narrowed portion of your artery to re-open it and restore normal blood flow. Your doctor may also insert a small stent to keep your artery open.
Protected PCI with Impella for severe heart disease
If you have been told you're not a candidate for PCI or heart surgery, protected PCI with Impella may be right for you. Interventional cardiologists at Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside offer protected PCI, a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked coronary arteries in patients who are high-risk for surgical complications and who have severe heart disease.
Protected PCI uses Impella, the world's smallest heart pump, to temporarily assist the pumping function of your heart. The Impella heart pump helps ensure blood flow is maintained to critical organs such as the brain and kidneys during a PCI procedure. There are many benefits of protected PCI, including relief from your symptoms and an improved quality of life.
Our interventional cardiology team:
For more information, or to see if PCI is right for you or your loved one, call 904-308-6445.
