Interventional Cardiology at Covenant Health

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) occurs when the coronary arteries that deliver blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked by the buildup of plaque, reducing the blood flow. This can lead to symptoms like chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, or more serious cardiac events like a heart attack.

Aortic valve conditions involve dysfunction of the aortic valve. These conditions can impair blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. Examples include:

• Aortic valve regurgitation: Occurs when the aortic valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the heart.
• Aortic stenosis: Narrowing of the aortic valve, which restricts blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.

Mitral valve conditions affect the valve between the heart’s left atrium and left ventricle. These conditions disrupt normal blood flow and heart function. Examples include:

• Mitral valve regurgitation: Occurs when the mitral valve does not close completely, causing blood to flow backward into the left atrium.
• Mitral valve stenosis: Narrowing of the mitral valve, which restricts blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.

Pulmonary valve conditions involve abnormalities of the valve controlling blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs. These conditions can affect oxygenation and strain the heart. Examples include:

• Pulmonary valve regurgitation: Ocurs when the pulmonary valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the right ventricle.
• Pulmonary valve stenosis: Narrowing of the pulmonary valve, which reduces blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Tricuspid valve conditions involve dysfunction of the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle, which can lead to blood flow issues. For example:

Tricuspid valve regurgitation: Occurs when the tricuspid valve does not close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward into the right atrium from the right ventricle. This can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, swelling in the legs or abdomen, and irregular heart rhythms. Tricuspid valve regurgitation is often caused by conditions that enlarge or weaken the right side of the heart.

Adult congenital heart defects are structural abnormalities in the heart or blood vessels present from birth that persist into adulthood, potentially affecting blood flow, oxygen levels, or overall heart function. Examples include:

• Patent foramen ovale (PFO): A small, flap-like opening between the upper chambers of the heart (atria) that fails to close after birth. This abnormality can cause blood to bypass the lungs.
• Atrial septal defect (ASD): A congenital hole in the wall between the heart’s atria that allows oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix.

These minimally invasive treatments restore blood flow by addressing blockages or narrowing in the coronary arteries. Examples include:

• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Restores blood flow in blocked coronary arteries.
• Interventional Cardiac Stenting: Uses stents to keep coronary arteries open.

These minimally invasive procedures correct abnormalities in the heart’s valves, walls, or chambers. Examples include:

• Atrial Septal Defe ct (ASD) Closure: Seals holes in the heart wall.
• Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure: Closes a persistent hole between heart chambers.

These minimally invasive interventions are designed to treat dysfunction in the heart valves and restore proper blood flow. Examples include:

• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): Minimally invasive replacement of the aortic valve.
• Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement (TPVR): Replaces a diseased pulmonary valve without open surgery.
• Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR): minimally invasive MitraClip procedure used to treat mitral regurgitation.
• Valvuloplasty: A balloon procedure to widen narrowed heart valves.

These minimally invasive techniques remove excess fluid or relieve pressure around the heart restoring normal function and preventing complications. For example:

• Pericardiocentesis: removes excess fluid from the pericardial sac surrounding the heart.

Follow any instructions from your doctor regarding medications, fasting, or preparation for tests to ensure accurate results.

Please bring your medical history, a list of current medications, and any previous test results to help guide your care.

Our cardiology team will walk you through the procedure, address any questions, and discuss the next steps in your personalized treatment plan.