Interventional Procedures
Depending on the results of the diagnostic tests, cardiologists may recommend changes in diet or physical activity, prescribe medication, recommend one or more of the following cath lab interventional procedures, or refer the patient to a cardiovascular surgeon for bypass surgery. To learn more about the following services, visit Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute.

Angioplasty, coronary stent implant and rotational atherectomy
These high-technology procedures help restore blood flow in heart vessels without open-heart surgery. During angioplasty, a wire is passed directly to the blocked part of the patient's coronary artery, and a tiny balloon passes over the wire and is inflated to clear the blockage. In many cases, open-heart surgical repair of the coronary arteries can be postponed or avoided completely. Coronary stent implant is similar to angioplasty, but in addition, a coronary stent (a small mesh-like wire tube) is placed in the blocked or narrowed coronary artery to help keep it open. Once permanently placed, this device acts like a pipe or scaffold to hold the artery open. Rotational atherectomy (rotoblator) is used for certain types of blockages in the coronary arteries. This procedure involves the insertion of a catheter that has a high-speed, rotational "burr" that breaks up blockages into very small fragments that can pass, harmlessly, into the circulation. Angioplasty may be performed after atherectomy, depending upon the results.

Pacemaker implants
When the heart's natural pacemaker fails, an artificial pacemaker can be implanted. Once implanted, the pacemaker will emit a series of electrical signals, which result in regular contractions of the heart and normal blood flow through the circulatory system.

Implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD)
An ICD is a light-weight electronic device implanted under the skin. It monitors heart rhythm and slows down or halts excessively rapid heart rates. Some of these rhythms, if untreated, would cause fatal outcomes within minutes. The procedure for insertion of the ICD is very similar to that of a pacemaker.

Radio frequency catheter ablation
This procedure, which is performed at the same time as an electrophysiology study, is done to treat fast heart rates. During an ablation, a catheter is guided into the heart to locate and eliminate the source of the irregular rhythm.

Cardioversion
Another procedure performed to correct a heart arrhythmia is the cardioversion. Used to correct atrial fibrillation, cardioversion involves sending an electrical shock to the heart. The shock briefly interrupts the heart, disrupts the arrhythmia and restores the heart to a normal rhythm.

For more information on these services and to meet our physicians, visit sangerheart.org.