What types of procedures do interventional cardiologists perform?
Interventional cardiologists at BWH select one or a combination of procedures best-suited to each patient. Procedures include: • Angioplasty and stenting – A long, slender tube is inserted through a blood vessel in your leg or wrist, and guided to the heart or elsewhere in your body. A dye is injected through the arteries to guide the cardiologist during the stenting procedure. A balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated to stretch open the artery and restore increased blood flow to the heart. In most cases, a small metal mesh cylinder called a stent is then placed in the vessel to help keep it open. • Atherectomy – Devices with tiny blades are sometimes used to cut away plaque deposits caused by atherosclerosis inside the blood vessel. • Carotid Stenting – Similarly, balloons and stents can be used to open the carotid arteries, the main blood vessels to the brain, and thereby lessen the risk of stroke. This procedure was just recently approved by the FDA. • Embolic protection – I
