Coronary Artery Disease
The most common interventional cardiology procedures are those performed to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease (CAD). The coronary arteries are located on the surface of the heart and provide blood supply to the heart muscle. These arteries frequently develop blockages especially in patients that have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. If a coronary artery closes abruptly, it causes what is frequently called a heart attack or myocardial infarction. This problem can be treated by placing a small, flexible tube called a catheter in an artery in the wrist or an artery in the groin. That catheter (tube) is advanced in the heart and the artery is opened using a balloon. A stent is a tiny metal tube that is deployed in the area where the artery was closed in order to keep the artery open. If the artery develops gradual narrowing, it may cause somebody to have chest pain. The patient should then see a cardiologist who will advise him if a coronary angiogram is needed to diagnose a blockage and treat it with a stent at a scheduled time.
