Coronary Artery Disease Services

Coronary artery disease occurs when fatty deposits and/or calcium (also referred to as plaque) build up within the lining of the coronary (heart) arteries. This plaque build-up can reduce the flow of blood through the coronary arteries. When an area of the heart does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, angina (heart discomfort) or even a heart attack may occur.

Located within Meriter Hospital are teams of experienced cardiologists with a track record and commitment to launch the latest innovations for these conditions. Take comfort knowing that the time it takes to get a patient from Meriter Emergency Services to our catheterization lab, for a life-saving angioplasty procedure to restore blood flow, is well below the national average.

Located in the Meriter Heart & Vascular Hospital, our experienced surgeons respond immediately to cardiac cases from Emergency Services and Intensive Care. They also perform pre-scheduled cardiovascular surgeries. Our use of the internal mammary artery (IMA) in bypass surgeries exceeds national averages. IMAs have been shown to stay open and disease free longer, compared to other bypass graphs. Also, the number of patients with no complications for isolated coronary bypass (CAB) procedures exceeds the national average. Our surgeons have been recognized as the "Best in Madison" and distinguished by their peers as some of the "Best Cardiovascular Surgeons in the Nation."

Testing

• Diagnostic Blood Tests - Used to diagnose the status of the patient, such as whether a patient has suffered heart muscle damage (a heart attack).
• Echocardiogram - An ultrasound of heart structures, conducted through the chest wall or esophagus. For more information about this procedure, read our Echocardiogram article.
• Electrocardiograms (ECG) - A recording of the electrical activity of the heart. For more information about this procedure, read our Electrocardiogram article.
• Heart Catheterization - A procedure in which a catheter is passed into the heart chambers and vessels to measure pressures, to determine if blockages exist in the coronary arteries, and to learn how effectively the heart pumps blood. For more information about this procedure, read our Cardiac Catheterization article.
• Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) - Sometimes used along with heart catheterizations, IVUS uses sound waves to produce an image of the coronary arteries and to see their condition. For more information about this procedure, read our Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) article.
• MUGA Scan - A test that produces a moving image of the beating heart. From this image, important features can be determined about the health of the cardiac ventricles (the heart's major pumping chambers). For more information about this test, read our MUGA Scan article.
• Stress Tests and Nuclear Stress Tests - These tests can show if there has been damage to the heart or if there is decreased blood flow to areas of the heart. They are done during rest or with exercise (or drugs may be used to simulate heart activity such as that which occurs during exercise). For more information about these procedures, read our Stress Test and Nuclear Stress Test articles.

Treatment

• Baremetal and Drug-eluting Stent Placement - Stents are devices made of expandable metal mesh that are placed at the site of a narrowed artery. The stent is expanded, using a balloon procedure, and left in place to keep the artery open. Drug-eluting (medicated) stents are used when needed to further reduce the chance of re-occlusion (closing up) of the coronary artery. For more information about these procedures, read our Stents and Medicated Stents articles.
• Clot-busting Thrombolytic Therapy - During this therapy, the patient receives IV medications that can dissolve blood clots, which cause most heart attacks and strokes. During a heart attack, thrombolytic therapy can reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle and save lives. For more information about this procedure, read our Thrombolytic Treatment article.
• Coronary Artery Balloon Angioplasty - A balloon procedure used to open an obstruction or narrowing of a blood vessel in the heart. This procedure is also known as a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). For more information about this procedure, read our Coronary Balloon Angioplasty & Stenting and Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty articles.
• Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP) - This treatment can relieve chronic angina (heart discomfort). For more information about this procedure, read our Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP) article.
• Open Heart Surgery - See the Open Heart Services section for details.
• Other Intracoronary Procedures such as Cutting Balloon, Athrectomy (Rotablater), and Angiojet - Procedures that can be used in combination with balloon angioplasties to assist in opening vessels and removing clots. These procedures may reduce the chance of reocclusion (closing up) of the coronary artery. For more information, read our Cutting Balloon, Athrectomy, and Angiojet articles.
• Septal Ablation for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - This procedure can relieve obstruction and improve symptoms of patients whose heart muscle has grown too thick to be an effective pump. For more information on this procedure, read our Septal Ablation for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy article.

Prevention

• Diagnostic Blood Tests - These include C-Reactive Protein, Homocysteine and Liproprotein(a).
• Exercise and Wellness Classes - Learn more in the Meriter Wellness Center section.
• Health Screenings - Meriter's outreach and education programs have reached thousands of community members with physician presentations, special events, health fairs, screenings and classes. For more information about future events, visit our Classes and Events section.
• Heart Scan - Also known as Calcium Scoring, this quick, non-invasive test measures hard plaque in the coronary arteries of seemingly healthy individuals. A preventive cardiology nurse explains your results and sends you home with a personalized plan to reduce an unhealthy lifestyle. Learn more in our Heart Scan section.
• Risk Factor Assessment and Counseling - In addition to our health screenings mentioned above, we offer an online Heart Risk Assessment - simply click the assessment graphic in the upper left to begin. Also, learn more about classes and programs offered by the Meriter Wellness Center.

Next: Open Heart Services

2/17/2009