Interventional Cardiology

Interventional cardiology uses minimally invasive procedures to diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of heart and vascular conditions. These advanced techniques address structural heart issues, coronary artery problems and more, helping patients avoid the need for open surgery. 

Conditions commonly treated by Ochsner's interventional cardiologists include:

• Atrial fibrillation: Irregular heart rhythm
• Cardiomyopathy: Heart muscle that is thick and stiff
• Chronic mesenteric ischemia: Blocked arteries leading to the intestines
• Congenital heart defects: Conditions present from birth, such as atrial septal defects, patent foramen ovale, and ventricular septal defects
• Coronary heart disease: Blocked arteries supplying blood to the heart
• Disease of the veins: Including varicose veins and other venous conditions
• Heart attack
• Renal artery stenosis: Blocked arteries leading to the kidneys
• Renovascular hypertension: High blood pressure caused by renal artery stenosis
• Peripheral artery disease: Blocked arteries leading to the arms and legs
• Pulmonary embolism: A blocked artery in the lung, usually caused by a blood clot
• Stroke
• Structural heart disease

Interventional cardiology offers effective, nonsurgical solutions to these conditions, helping patients improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of serious complications.

Ochsner's interventional cardiology team leverages cutting-edge diagnostic tools to ensure precise and accurate diagnoses. These advanced technologies include:

• Fractional flow reserve: Measures blood flow to identify restricted areas.
• Intravascular ultrasound: Detects the presence and severity of blockages inside arteries.
• Optical coherence tomography: Provides high-definition imaging of the inside of coronary arteries.

With a clear diagnosis, Ochsner's team creates a personalized care plan tailored to your specific needs. Interventional cardiology focuses on minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures to diagnose and treat heart and vascular conditions. Using thin, flexible tubes called catheters, interventional cardiologists guide these tools to the problem area, utilizing advanced imaging to visualize arteries and valves. These techniques often eliminate the need for open-heart surgery.

Some of the catheter-based procedures Ochsner offers include:

• Alcohol septal ablation: Reduces thickened heart walls caused by cardiomyopathy
• Angioplasty and stenting (also known as percutaneous coronary intervention): Opens blocked or narrowed arteries to restore blood flow
• Atherectomy: Removes fatty deposits and cholesterol blocking coronary arteries
• Below-the-knee endovascular surgical procedures: Treats critical limb ischemia to reduce the risk of amputation for patients with non-healing wounds
• Melody valve therapy: Helps pediatric and adult patients delay heart transplantation
• MitraClip: Repairs defective mitral valves to prevent blood backflow into the left atrium
• TandemHeart and Impella devices: Temporarily support heart function until a transplant or further treatment is available
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): Replaces a diseased aortic valve without the need for major surgery

These advanced procedures allow our team to provide effective, minimally invasive solutions, helping patients recover faster and improve their quality of life.

Ochsner's interventional cardiology program is built around a multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to your heart health. Depending on your specific needs, your care team may include:

• Cardiac surgeons
• Cardiologists
• Electrophysiologists
• Radiation oncologists - Ochsner is one of only 20 locations in the United States to offer catheter-delivered radiation seeds directly into the coronary artery for advanced treatment.

Beyond expert medical care, Ochsner provide a range of support services to help you recover and maintain your health long-term. These include:

• Digital hypertension program: Manage your blood pressure or blood sugar from the comfort of your home with tools and guidance tailored to your needs.
• Cardiac rehabilitation: Engage in specialized exercises under the supervision of a rehabilitation specialist, paired with ongoing education to protect your heart and improve your overall health.
• Vascular medicine clinic. Receive expert care for conditions affecting arteries in the kidneys, legs or other areas. This specialized clinic offers advanced treatments available at only a few locations nationwide.

While many heart conditions have multiple treatment options, there are times when no approved therapies are available. In these cases, the Ochsner interventional cardiology team may connect you with a clinical trial, offering access to innovative treatments that are not yet widely available.

At any given time, Ochsner conducts multiple clinical trials, and in some instances, we are the only location in the United States offering a specific trial. These trials provide new hope for patients who have exhausted other options, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in cardiovascular care.

Clinical trials also create lasting benefits. When new therapies are discovered, they not only help current participants but also improve outcomes for future generations facing similar challenges.

If you’re eligible for a clinical trial, your care team will discuss the opportunity with you, providing all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Interventional cardiology is a specialized branch of cardiology that focuses on minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures to diagnose and treat heart and vascular conditions. Unlike general cardiology, which often involves managing heart health through medications and lifestyle changes, interventional cardiology uses advanced techniques like angioplasty, stenting and valve repair to address structural heart issues and blocked arteries without the need for open-heart surgery.

Interventional cardiologists treat a wide range of heart and vascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, peripheral artery disease, structural heart disease and more. They also address complications like heart attacks, strokes and pulmonary embolisms using advanced, minimally invasive procedures.

Minimally invasive procedures, such as angioplasty, stenting and transcatheter valve replacement, offer several benefits compared to traditional open-heart surgery. These include shorter recovery times, reduced risk of complications, smaller incisions and less pain. At Ochsner, our interventional cardiology team specializes in these advanced techniques to help patients return to their daily lives more quickly.