Interventional cardiology

Interventional cardiology is where we treat heart disease without using large cuts or incisions to the body (open surgery). 

Most of the procedures are called minimally invasive, because they involve small cuts to gain access to the inside of the body and often use thin, hollow and flexible tubes (catheters).

A cardiac angiogram is a type of x-ray using a special dye, which shows if an artery is narrowed or blocked. The artery can be seen and recorded on video.

What happens during an angiogram?

A nurse will check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature and oxygen levels. A small sample of blood may be taken to make sure it is not too thin.

A cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm, so that you can be sedated and other drugs directly into your blood stream.

You will be asked to remove any dentures just before the procedure. Please tell us if you have any capped or loose teeth.

You will be taken to the cardiac catheter lab for your procedure.

You will be given a local anaesthetic in either your groin or forearm, depending on where your doctor would like to insert the dye. You may be given a mild sedative as you will be awake throughout the procedure.

A thin flexible tube called a catheter is passed into the artery. The catheter will be moved, under x-ray guidance, until it reaches the correct position in your heart. Dye is then injected into the catheter. This can be seen on the screen. x-rays are taken as the dye passes through your arteries, outlining the blood supply to your heart. Some people experience a hot flushing sensation from the dye, which will last for a few seconds only. You will be told when this will happen.

A coronary angioplasty is a procedure used to widen blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. The term angioplasty means using a balloon to stretch open a narrowed or blocked artery. However, most modern angioplasty procedures also involve inserting a short wire-mesh tube, called a stent, into the artery during the procedure. The stent is left in place permanently to allow blood to flow more freely.

Coronary angioplasty is sometimes known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The combination of coronary angioplasty with stenting is usually referred to as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

If, during your cardiac angiogram, an artery is found to be narrowed or blocked, an angioplasty may be carried out, to relieve the narrowing or blockage. Both procedures are performed under local anaesthetic and mild sedation. You will need to stay in hospital overnight.