Heart

What is Cardiology?

Cardiology is the medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. The cardiovascular system, which includes the heart and blood vessels, is responsible for circulating blood and oxygen throughout the body.

Symptoms

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be advisable to seek the advice of a cardiologist:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Heart palpitations (sensations of a racing, fluttering, or pounding heart)
• Weakness or dizziness
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
• Fainting or near-fainting episodes

Common Cardiac Conditions or Heart Diseases

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Heart attack (Myocardial infarction)
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• Aortic aneurysms
• Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
• Congenital heart disease (heart conditions present at birth)
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Pulmonary embolism
• Cardiomyopathy
• Hypertensive (high blood pressure)
• Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Mitral valve prolapse
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA)
• Aortic stenosis
• Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
• Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
• Transposition of the great arteries (TGA)
• Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome

Cardiac Procedures for Diagnosis and Treatment

• Diagnostic coronary and bypass graft angiography – a procedure that uses X-rays and dye to examine the blood vessels (coronary arteries) and bypass grafts that supply blood to the heart muscle, detecting blockages or narrowing and evaluating the success of previous surgeries
• Diagnostic right and left heart cardiac catheterisation – a procedure where a catheter is inserted into the right or left side of the heart to measure blood pressure, oxygen levels, and to evaluate heart function
• Diagnostic peripheral and renal angiography – X-ray and dye procedure that examines blood vessels in arms, legs, and kidneys to detect blockages or narrowing.
• Intravascular ultrasound imaging – uses ultrasound probe on a catheter to image inside blood vessels and evaluate blockages/narrowing
• Intracoronary physiological pressure wire measurement (FFR) – a procedure that measures blood pressure inside the coronary artery to evaluate the severity of blockages and determine if a stent is necessary
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) – a minimally invasive procedure used to treat blockages in the coronary arteries, involving a balloon catheter to widen the narrowed artery, and sometimes a stent is placed to help keep the artery open:
  • Drug-eluting stent implantation
  • Plain balloon
  • Drug-coated balloon angioplasty
• 24/7 acute angioplasty for heart attack patients – a life-saving emergency procedure where a blocked coronary artery is opened with a balloon catheter and a stent may be placed
• Peripheral and renal angioplasty – a minimally invasive procedure used to treat blockages in the peripheral arteries and renal arteries
• Renal artery denervation for treatment-resistant high blood pressure – a procedure where the nerves around the renal arteries are ablated to treat high blood pressure that has not responded to medication
• Percutaneous device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovule – a procedure used to close holes in the heart (ASD or PFO) that can cause stroke or heart failure
• Electrophysiological assessment and treatment/ablation of cardiac arrhythmias with 3D mapping – a procedure that uses catheters and advanced mapping techniques to locate and treat abnormal heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and ventricular tachycardia
• Left atrial appendage occluder device implant – a procedure where a device is implanted in the left atrial appendage to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who cannot take blood thinners
• Temporary and permanent cardiac device implants – a procedure where a small device is implanted under the skin to help regulate the heartbeat. Temporary devices are used for short-term heart monitoring, while permanent devices include pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs):
  • Permanent single-chamber, dual-chamber pacemaker
  • Biventricular pacemaker implantations (CRT-P or D)
  • Leadless pacemaker implantation (Micra)
  • Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)