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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (previously coronary angioplasty)
This procedure is performed in the "cath" lab by a cardiologist and a highly skilled team. A thin, flexible tube is inserted into the heart and coronary arteries. A tiny balloon-like device can be inflated to push the blocking plaque against the wall of the artery to improve blood flow.
Stents are also commonly used during coronary angioplasty. In this procedure, a mesh tube is expanded to the exact shape of the artery to free up blood flow.
Angiojet
The Angiojet is a very small device that was approved in 1999 for dissolving potentially deadly blood clots in a patient's coronary arteries by delivering a high pressure jet of saline into the artery before the patient undergoes a balloon angioplasty (often with stenting).
By removing the blood clots from the coronary artery before angioplasty/stenting, the Angiojet can greatly reduce the risk of complications such as heart attack or even death.
Permanent Pacemaker
This commonly implanted device is prescribed for patients whose heart is beating to slow or is out of rhythm. It can also be used for older adults and can aid in preventing congestive heart failure by helping the heart beat at a regular, even rate.
Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator
This small, automatic defibrillator is inserted near the collarbone of patients to correct life-threatening irregular heartbeat problems called arrhythmias. It delivers an electric shock through tiny electrodes attached to the heart, to help correct the rhythm.
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