The Interventional Cardiology service at our state-of-the-art Shapiro Cardiovascular Center offers various non-surgical procedures for both diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease in patients with coronary, valvular or peripheral vascular disease, as well as other cardiovascular diseases. Interventional cardiologists use catheters which are thin, flexible tubes to maneuver through blood vessels for diagnostic tests or to repair damaged vessels or other heart structures, often avoiding the need for surgery. Our multidisciplinary approach to treatment may involve collaboration among experts in pain management, anesthesia, and when necessary, cardiac surgery and vascular surgery.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the narrowing of the coronary arteries, the vessels which supply the heart muscle with blood and oxygen. This narrowing of the arteries is 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, which can lead to heart attack or other heart problems. Symptoms may include angina (intermittent chest pain), shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and/or weakness.
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Heart Valve Disease involves heart valves that are not working correctly to regulate the flow of blood through the heart chambers. This can arise from abnormalities from the time of birth 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 work harder to pump blood, and may be unable to supply adequate circulation to the rest of your body. Two common forms of heart valve disease are aortic valve stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling of the ankles and legs, fatigue, dizziness, and/or fainting.
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Peripheral Arterial/Vascular Disease involves blockages in the other arteries that run throughout your body. Like the coronary arteries in your heart, these vessels can become clogged and hardened through atherosclerosis, and can increase your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke, or limb loss. Symptoms may also include pain in the leg muscles (particularly calves and thighs) with walking or exercise and/or severe aching pain in your toes or feet at night.
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Structural Heart Disease or "congenital heart disease" is a condition where the heart of an adult is found not to have developed properly. Despite the term congenital meaning "inborn" or "existing at birth", this may or may not have been diagnosed before birth. Adult patients may have had no symptoms at all in childhood, however were diagnosed as an adult. Common structural heart problems include abnormal connections between hear chambers.
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Cardiomyopathy means "heart muscle disease". With cardiomyopathy, heart muscle becomes weak and thin and may become larger and less efficient at pumping blood. There are several different causes of Cardiomyopathy including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and infection or inflammation. In addition, there are different types of cardiomyopathy including dilated and "hypertrophic" each with different treatments.
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Carotid Artery Disease is when one or both arteries in your neck become narrowed due to accumulation of plaque. Blockages in these arteries can lead to stroke or other problems with brain circulation.
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Pulmonary Embolism (PE) A blood clot that forms in a vein, usually in the leg or pelvis, can break off and travel through the veins of the abdomen and chest and into the veins supplying blood to the lungs. A pulmonary embolism can severely restrict the blood flow to the lungs and can cause shortness of breath, chest pain and weakness. PE can be treated with medications, mechanical removal in the catheterization laboratory, or with surgery.
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Related Services
Advanced Heart Disease/Heart Failure Service
Boston Adult Congenital Heart Service
Cardiac Surgery
Center for Cardiovascular Disease in Women
Noninvasive Cardiovascular Imaging
Vascular Surgery
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