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Interventional cardiology
Minimally invasive cardiac interventions
Interventional cardiology is where a small tube is inserted through an artery up to the heart in a process known as cardiac catheterisation to fix a heart problem. Examples include heart valve replacement, stenting in the heart, clipping off a part of the heart where blood might clot, ballooning up arteries, or patching over a hole in the heart.
Where it is clinically appropriate to do so, interventional cardiology is a much less invasive option that open heart surgery, and allows for a faster recovery. It can be performed by cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Here are some of the cardiac interventions available at The Wesley.
Structural heart procedures are used to repair problems with the valves, muscles and walls of the heart, and are a minimally invasive alternative to open heart surgery. Learn more about our Structural Heart Program here.
A coronary angioplasty uses a balloon to stretch open a narrowed or blocked artery, improving blood flow. It may be used as an emergency treatment after a heart attack. Often a stent is inserted, which is known as percutaneous coronary intervention.
A non-surgical procedure involving the ballooning of plaque in one or more of the coronary arteries and the placement of a coronary artery stent to improve blood flow to the heart muscle. It is done under local anaesthetic, usually via the femoral or radial artery.
A procedure that involves a catheter especially designed to ‘bore out’ a narrowing in a coronary artery that might not otherwise respond to ‘traditional’ percutaneous coronary artery intervention due to marked calcification.
Meet our interventional cardiologists
Note: The information here is for general reference only. To understand the benefits and risks specific to your condition and overall situation, please discuss any procedure with your treating doctor.
Your next step
To access interventional cardiology services at The Wesley Hospital, you will need a referral from your doctor to one of our cardiologists.