Interventional Cardiology Interventional cardiologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of several types of heart disease using catheter-based treatment. A number of heart procedures can be performed using catheterization. This typically involves inserting a sheath into the femoral artery, radial artery, or any other large peripheral artery or vein, and then inserting a catheter into the heart under X-ray visualization. Primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) is now the gold standard of care for an acute heart attack. This procedure allows our interventional cardiologists to reopen a

Ablation What is ablation? No one has yet found the perfect cure for irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. However, a non-surgical, catheter-based technique called ablation performed at Munson Medical Center has about an 80 percent long-term success rate in eliminating the condition. How is an ablation performed? This procedure takes place in a special hospital room called an Electrophysiology Lab. It takes 2 to 4 hours. A specially-trained cardiologist guides a catheter with an electrode at its tip to the area of heart muscle where the damaged site is located. A mild, painless

Brachytherapy What is brachytherapy? Brachytherapy is a very effective therapy that delivers targeted, high doses of radiation inside a blocked coronary artery where a stent is present. Radiation therapy that targets recurring blockage has two purposes: to treat the blockage itself by killing the cells that have re-blocked the stent, and to prevent further blockage by inhibiting tissue growth. Why does Munson Medical Center offer brachytherapy? Present stent technology is very effective and most patients can expect good long-term results with drug-eluting stents. However, 5 - 10 percent of

Cardiac Catheterization What is cardiac catheterization? Cardiac catheterization is used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions. During a catheterization, angiograms (X-ray videos), pressure recordings, and other measurements help your cardiologist check for: coronary artery disease (disease in the heart's arteries) valvular heart disease (disease in the heart’s valves) congenital heart disease (heart disease you were born with) other conditions This is one of the most helpful procedures for giving your physician a clear picture of your heart’s overall health. How is it performed? A

CardioMEMS What is CardioMEMS? The CardioMEMS Heart Failure System is the first FDA-approved monitoring device proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions among heart failure patients. Munson Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in the nation to begin offering this innovative, groundbreaking technology in 2015. How does CardioMEMS help? Pulmonary artery pressure starts to increase in heart failure patients one to three weeks before the person notices any changes in symptoms or weight. About 90 percent of patients admitted to the hospital for heart failure have pulmonary

Electrophysiology Studies What are Electrophysiology Studies? These tests look at your heart's electrical function and locate places inside your heart that may be causing abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). The studies are performed in a special lab by an electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes in studying and treating the electrical system of the heart), who works with a team of nurses and technologists. What happens during an electrophysiology study? Electrical signals make the muscles in your heart contract. Those contractions pump blood through your body. Serious problems can

Enhanced External Counterpulsation Therapy What is EECP? EECP therapy is an outpatient treatment for angina and heart failure. During this noninvasive procedure, inflatable bags are wrapped around the legs (like a blood pressure cuff around the arm) and inflated and deflated in rhythm with your heartbeat. This treatment may be able to decrease the symptoms of angina and improve oxygen flow. How is it done? Treatments are usually for one hour each day, five days a week, up to seven weeks, for a total of 35 hours. During the treatment, you will lie on a comfortable table with large blood

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator What is a defibrillator? This tiny battery-powered device can be surgically implanted in your chest to monitor your heart rhythm. If a dangerous arrhythmia (irregular beat) is detected, the device automatically sends a small electrical impulse in an attempt to return the heartbeat to normal. The process of implanting an ICD is similar to implanting a pacemaker. An ICD typically includes electrode wire(s) that pass through a vein to the right chambers of the heart. Pacemakers are more often temporary and are generally designed to correct a slow heartbeat

Pacemaker What is a pacemaker? A pacemaker is a small electronic device that takes over the job of providing the electrical impulses needed to establish an appropriate heart rhythm. It keeps track of your normal heartbeat, and can sense when it becomes too slow. When that happens, the pacemaker generates a small electrical impulse, very similar to the heart's natural impulse. This keeps your heart beating at a normal pace. How is a pacemaker implanted? The generator may be implanted under your skin through a small incision. The generator is connected to your heart through tiny wires that are

Therapeutic Hypothermia What is therapeutic hypothermia? Therapeutic hypothermia is controlled, temporary cooling of a patient’s body temperature. Munson Medical Center began performing the procedure in 2009. About 90 percent of the 300,000 Americans who suffer a heart attack outside of a hospital die each year. For decades, conventional wisdom has been that if the heart stops beating longer than six to 10 minutes, the brain is dead. Mounting evidence of survival with little to no brain damage prompted hospitals around the country – including Munson Medical Center – to add therapeutic