Interventional cardiology is a type of heart care that uses small, hollow tubes called catheters. Catheters are similar to intravenous (IV) therapy because they only require a small poke, not an incision. 

An interventional cardiologist, often along with a surgeon, puts these small tubes into the blood vessels that lead to your heart. They usually place the catheter in the leg artery around your groin. Then, they pass tiny instruments and devices through the catheter. 

This is called cardiac catheterization. It happens in a special lab (the "cath lab" or catheterization laboratory) instead of an operating room. We use catheterization to both diagnose and treat several heart issues.

What conditions can interventional cardiology treat?

Using catheters, we now treat many health issues that we used to only be able to treat with surgery.  

This includes: 

• ​​​Heart attack: We use percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as a lifesaving treatment during a heart attack. PCI used to be called angioplasty. We can open up blood vessels in the heart using a catheter and a stent placement.
• ​​Heart valve problems: For people with aortic valve disease, we can often do heart valve replacement without surgery. Depending on the valve, this may be ​TAVR or MitraClip.
• ​​​Coronary artery disease: We can help diagnose heart disease. This includes tests like angiograms.
• ​​Arrhythmia: Our electrophysiologists (EPs) can treat arrhythmias. (EPs are heart rhythm specialists.) We also offer left atrial appendage closure (called Watchman) for ​​atrial fibrillation.
• ​​​Heart failure: We use a procedure to place a CardioMEMS sensor in the artery that connects the heart and lungs. It helps us monitor heart failure more closely.
• ​​Aortic disease: We're able to repair some aneurysms with interventional approaches.
• ​​Vein issues: Thrombolysis can break up life-threatening blood clots. We also use interventional techniques to help repair veins. 

Sometimes, you might need emergency care to help save your life. 

The most common catheter-based intervention we do is PCI for heart attack. As an accredited Chest Pain Center, we have expertise in this type of care. We do hundreds of them every year. 

For atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias, your doctor will likely try medicine first. If your symptoms don't improve, they'll review your options. 

For aortic stenosis, which tends to worsen with age, your doctor will talk to you about timing. You want to do it before your symptoms become debilitating.  

Some of the benefits of this approach include: 

• You can reduce your risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke
• You recover more quickly than with traditional surgery
• There are fewer risks of bleeding and a lower rate of complications
• There's no incision to heal and usually only minimal pain
• It may only take one attempt to fully treat certain heart issues 

Interventional procedures aren't the same as surgery. However, some of the preparations are similar. 

Before your procedure 

Your cardiologist will order heart imaging so the team knows your heart anatomy. You may need other tests to check if your arteries are suited for a catheter. 

Your doctor will give you instructions about when to stop eating before you come in. As with surgery, you'll need to wash the day of with a special soap.  

During your procedure 

You'll need someone to bring you to the hospital or surgery center. 

We use different types of anesthesia based on the person and the procedure. No matter your type of anesthesia, you shouldn't feel pain. 

Some are over very quickly, and others may take a few hours. 

After your procedure 

We'll bring you into a post-anesthesia unit when you’re done.  

After a catheter-based procedure, you'll need to lie flat for 4 to 6 hours. The care team will look after you during this time, and you'll be able to have visitors.  

Many people will spend the night in the hospital.