FOR THE HEART

Also known as Percutaneous Coronary Interventions [PCI], Balloon Angioplasty and Coronary Artery Balloon Dilation. Reason for the Procedure Greatly increases blood flow through the blocked artery. Decreases chest pain (angina). Increases ability for physical activity. Reduces risk of a heart attack. Can also be used to open neck and brain arteries to help prevent stroke.

(Also known as Heart Valve Replacement Surgery) Reason for the Procedure Restores function of the heart valves.

Similar to angioplasty except that the catheter has a rotating shaver on its tip to cut away plaque from the artery. Reason for the Procedure Increases blood flow through the blocked artery by removing plaque buildup. May also be used in carotid arteries (major arteries of the neck leading to the brain) to remove plaque and reduce risk for stroke.

(Also known as CABG or "cabbage," Coronary Artery Bypass Graft and Open-Heart Surgery) Reason for the Procedure One of the most common and effective procedures to manage blockage of blood to the heart muscle. Improves the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Relieves chest pain (angina). Reduces risk of heart attack. Improves ability for physical activity.

An experimental procedure in which skeletal muscles are taken from a patient's back or abdomen. Then they're wrapped around an ailing heart. This added muscle, aided by ongoing stimulation from a device similar to a pacemaker, may boost the heart's pumping motion. Reason for the Procedure Increases the pumping motion of the heart.

Removes a diseased heart and replaces it with a healthy human heart when a heart is irreversibly damaged. Uses hearts from organ donation. Reason for the Procedure Recognized as a proven procedure to restore heart health in appropriately selected patients.

(Also known as Limited Access Coronary Artery Surgery and includes Port-Access Coronary Artery Bypass (PACAB or PortCAB) and Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (MIDCAB) Reason for the Procedure Manages blockage of blood flow to the heart and improves the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Relieves chest pain (angina). Reduces risk of heart attack. Improves ability for physical activity.

A catheter with an electrode at its tip is guided through the veins to the heart muscle with real-time, moving Xrays (fluoroscopy) displayed on a video screen. The catheter is placed at the exact site inside the heart where cells give off the electrical signals that stimulate the abnormal heart rhythm. Then a mild, painless radiofrequency energy (similar to microwave heat) is transmitted to the pathway. This destroys carefully selected heart muscle cells in a very small area (about 1/5 of an inch). Reason for the Procedure Preferred treatment for many types of rapid heartbeats (arrhythmias) especially supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

A stent is a wire mesh tube used to prop open an artery during angioplasty (View an animation of a stent). The stent stays in the artery permanently. Reason for the Procedure Holds the artery open. Improves blood flow to the heart muscle. Relieves chest pain (angina).

An incision is made on the left breast to expose the heart. Then, a laser is used to drill a series of holes from the outside of the heart into the heart's pumping chamber. In some patients TMR is combined with bypass surgery. In those cases an incision through the breastbone is used for the bypass. Usually requires a hospital stay. Reason for the Procedure Used to relieve severe chest pain (angina) in very ill patients who aren't candidates for bypass surgery or angioplasty.