Interventional cardiology is a subspecialty of cardiology that uses specialized
catheter-based techniques to diagnose and treat heart attacks, coronary
artery disease, vascular disease, structural heart disease, and congenital
heart defects. Interventional cardiologists use various diagnostic tools
and imaging techniques to measure cardiovascular functions including blood
flow in major arteries of the heart and associated blood vessels, and
pressures within the different chambers of the heart. Interventional cardiologists
do not perform traditional “open heart” surgeries. Their procedures
are performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, often referred
to as the “cath lab.”
What is the difference between an interventional cardiologist and a general
cardiologist?
The major difference is that interventional cardiologists are trained to
perform specific catheter-based procedures and interventions for heart
disease, whereas general cardiologists are not specifically trained in
performing those interventions.
What procedures does an interventional cardiologist perform?
Interventionalists perform a wide range of procedures for cardiovascular
diseases and conditions that affect the heart and surrounding blood vessels.
These include:
Coronary Angiograms and/or Cardiac Catheterization including Left Heart
and/or Right Heart Catheterizations
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
Balloon Angioplasty
Stent Implantation
Atherectomy
Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging
Hemodynamic Assessment of Blockages in Blood Vessels Using Pressure Wires
Peripheral Angiograms (including lower extremity arterial and venous angiograms,
renal or carotid angiograms)
Emergency and Rescue Procedures in the hospital for patients coming in
with heart attacks and/or cardiogenic shock: Emergency cardiac catheterizations,
pericardiocentesis and/or insertion of mechanical heart pumps such as
intra-aortic balloon pumps or Impella
What are the most common procedures performed by an interventional cardiologist?
The most common procedure is a cardiac catheterization, which involves
the insertion of a sheath into the wrist artery or groin and passing a
catheter to the heart to take X-ray images of the coronary arteries using
contrast dye and/or check pressures inside the heart. If there are blockages
in the coronary artery that can and need to be fixed, the blockages are
opened with a balloon (angioplasty) and/or a stent (metal sleeve that
is inserted to prop open the artery from within). These procedures are
done on an elective basis in the cath lab or more emergently if patient
is actively coming into the hospital with a heart attack.
Do interventional cardiologists do surgery?
No. They perform minimally invasive procedures in the cath lab in a hospital
setting. If you need coronary artery bypass grafting, surgery on your
aorta or a valve replacement, a heart transplant, or a repair that cannot
be done through a catheter, you will be referred to a cardiac surgeon.
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