The interventional cardiology team at Shands at UF specializes in non-surgical procedures that treat cardiovascular disease. Interventional cardiologists use catheters (thin, flexible tubes) to get inside blood vessels for diagnostic tests or to repair narrowed arteries or weakened heart valves, which often eliminates the need for surgery.

Interventional cardiology is used to treat several forms of cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and heart valve disease.

Coronary artery disease, refers to the narrowing of the arteries caused by atherosclerosis—the buildup of fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium and plaque on the inner surface of the arteries. Atherosclerosis restricts blood flow to the heart. This can lead to heart attack or other heart problems.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis may include:

• angina (intermittent chest pain)
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• nausea
• weakness

Listen to a Shands HealthCast about coronary artery disease.

Similarly, peripheral vascular disease involves the arteries that run throughout the body. These arteries can also become clogged, which increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke or the loss of a limb.

Symptoms of peripheral vascular disease may include:

• pain in the leg muscles
• aching pain in the toes or feet.

Heart valve disease involves heart valves that are not correctly regulating the flow of blood through the heart chambers. This can arise from congenital defects or through damage by rheumatic fever, bacterial infection or heart attacks. Valves also can degenerate with the normal aging process.

To compensate, your heart must pump harder and may be unable to supply adequate blood circulation to the rest of your body. Two common forms of heart valve disease are aortic valve stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation.

Symptoms of heart valve disease may include:

• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• swelling of the ankles and legs
• fatigue
• dizziness
• fainting

Diagnosis

Interventional cardiologists use cardiac catheterization to diagnose problems with the arteries or heart valves.

Cardiac catheterization identifies:

• the size and location of plaques that may have built up in the arteries from atherosclerosis
• the strength of the heart muscle
• the adequacy of valve function

To start the cardiac catheterization, the interventional cardiologist threads a catheter, which is a thin, flexible tube, through a blood vessel in the patient’s arm or groin and into the heart. With the catheter in place, the cardiologist can measure blood pressure, take blood samples and inject dyes into the coronary or other arteries to trace the movement of blood through the arteries and chambers of the heart.

By watching the dye move through the heart’s chambers and blood vessels, the cardiologist can see whether the arteries are narrowed or blocked and whether the valves are working properly. This helps determine whether bypass or valve surgery or angioplasty (catheter-based valve repair) is needed.

Treatment

The interventional cardiologists at Shands at UF specialize in a number of procedures that include:

• Angioplasty
• Stenting
• Coronary artery radiotherapy
• Coronary rotational atherectomy
• Septal ablation

Information

For more information or to schedule a new patient appointment, please call toll-free 1.866.931.1185

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To make a new patient appointment or find out more information about heart care services offered at Shands at the University of Florida, please call toll-free 1.866.931.1185.

You may also email our Consultation Center (consult@shands.ufl.edu) or use our secure online form.