Interventional cardiology
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Interventional cardiology is a branch of the medical specialty of cardiology that deals specifically with the mechanical treatment of heart diseases.
A large number of procedures can be performed to the heart by catheterization. This involves the insertion of a sheath into the femoral artery (or theoretically any large peripheral artery) and cannulating the heart under X-ray vision (most commonly fluoroscopy, a real-time x-ray).
Procedures performed by specialists in interventional cardiology:
- Angioplasty (PTCA, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty) - for coronary atherosclerosis
- Radiofrequent ablation - for arrhythmias
- Mace procedure - for atrial fibrillation
- Insertion of artificial pacemakers is not necessary limited to interventional cardiology.
Surgery of the heart is done by the specialism of cardiothoracic surgery. Some interventional cardiology procedures are only performed when there is cardiothoracic surgery expertise in the hospital, in case of complications.