St. Luke’s Health - Memorial Hospital - San Augustine, TX

A Temporary Pump, to Relieve Stress on the Heart and Decrease Damage to the Muscle

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) is a non-surgical procedure used to widen coronary arteries that have been blocked or narrowed. The procedure involves the use of a catheter to place a stent in the heart, opening the blood vessels and improving blood flow. PCI may be used for the relief of coronary heart disease symptoms or to reduce damage to the heart before or after a heart attack.

Thrombolysis is a treatment used to dissolve clots that develop in the blood vessels and improve blood flow throughout the body. Thrombolytic Medications are sometimes given through an intravenous line (IV) to ensure distribution directly to the affected area.

The traditional and most common type of surgery for aortic aneurysms is open chest repair. It involves a major incision in the chest. General anesthesia is needed with this procedure. The aneurysm is removed and the section of aorta is replaced with an artificial graft made of material such as Dacron® or Teflon®. The surgery takes 3 to 6 hours, and the patient remains in the hospital for 5 to 8 days. It often takes a month to recover from open chest surgery and return to full activity.

A specially designed catheter with a tiny balloon is carefully guided through the artery to the blockage, then inflated to widen the opening and increase blood flow to the heart. A stent is often placed during the procedure, to keep the artery open after the balloon is deflated and removed.

A valvuloplasty, also known as balloon valvuloplasty or balloon valvotomy, is a procedure to repair a heart valve that has a narrowed opening. In a narrowed heart valve, the valve flaps (leaflets) may become thick or stiff and fuse together (stenosis). This reduces blood flow through the valve.

Bioprosthetic heart valves are most commonly either made of bovine (cow) or porcine (pig) tissue. Of course the main advantage of a bioprosthetic valve is that there is not typically the need for life long blood thinning medication and therefore a significantly lower risk of bleeding.

Coronary artery bypass surgery is a treatment for coronary artery disease (blocking or narrowing of the arteries that carry blood an oxygen to the heart). The procedure takes healthy blood vessels from elsewhere in the body, often the leg, and grafts them above and below the blockages to redirect blood around the blockage and restore blood flow to the heart.

A heart transplant is an operation in which a diseased, failing heart is replaced with a healthier donor heart. Heart transplant is a treatment that's usually reserved for people whose condition hasn't improved enough with medications or other surgeries.

Heart valve repair can usually be done on congenital valve defects (defects you are born with) and has a good success record with treating mitral valve defects. Severe valve damage means the valve must be replaced and most often involves the aortic or mitral valve. It is also used to treat any valve disease that is life-threatening. Some patients may need more than one valve repaired or replaced.

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a pump that is used for patients who have reached end-stage heart failure. The LVAD, a battery-operated, mechanical pump, is surgically implanted, which then helps the left ventricle) pump blood to the rest of the body.

A significantly less invasive procedure than traditional open-heart surgery, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery involves one or more small incisions, which are usually made on the right side of the chest between the ribs to access the heart. This procedure often results in less pain and faster recovery for the patient.

Any type of surgery that involves cutting open the chest and splitting the breastbone to access and operate on the heart. Open-heart surgeries treat heart conditions like congenital heart defects, arrhythmias, aneurysms, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.

Peripheral stents are often implanted in conjunction with balloon angioplasty. Peripheral stent implants help hold open an artery so that blood can flow through the blocked or clogged artery., The stent—a small, lattice-shaped wire mesh tube, props open the artery and remains permanently in place.

Peripheral vascular bypass (PVB) refers to surgical revision of blood flow to restore perfusion distal to an occluded or otherwise disrupted arterial segment. Peripheral vascular bypass procedures can involve any arteries excluding those in the heart or the brain

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure to replace a narrowed aortic valve that fails to open properly.

A minimally invasive procedure for patients with mitral valve regurgitation (a condition where the mitral valve is not functioning properly). Unlike traditional open-heart surgery, TMVR does not require surgical opening of the chest. Instead, a catheter is inserted into a vein in the groin and up to the heart. The catheter is used to implant a small device that tightens the mitral valve to reduce the effects of mitral regurgitation.

CT (computerized tomography) body imaging is a diagnostic tool that provides a detailed look at the organs of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. CT body imaging provides detailed views from many angles and cross-sections of the organs, bones, and soft tissues, and blood vessels, and often incorporates contrast dye to narrow in on a specific area.

Computerized tomography (CT) neuro imaging is a diagnostic tool that provides detailed views of the brain from many angles and in specific “slices” throughout. CT brain scans are used to detect and monitor injuries, tumors, and brain diseases, often with the assistance of contrast dye.

Liver and kidney biopsies are diagnostic procedures performed by removing a small piece of organ tissue for evaluation, typically with the use of a biopsy needle. The biopsied tissue can be closely examined to determine the presence and/or severity of liver or kidney disease.

A neck biopsy is a diagnostic procedure that removes a small sample of tissue from a lump in the neck (e.g., from the thyroid gland) to be analyzed in a lab. Performed with a biopsy needle, an ultrasound is typically used to guide the procedure.

A prostate biopsy is a diagnostic procedure to detect prostate cancer if a prostrate screening has shown any abnormality. A biopsy needle is used to remove a small sample of tissue or cells from the prostate gland (in males), which are then examined under a microscope.

Thyroid/lymph node biopsies are minimally invasive diagnostic procedures that use a fine needle to remove a small sample of tissue or cells from the thyroid gland or lymph nodes for examination in a lab. Typically, these biopsies are used to determine the presence or progression of cancer.

A minimally invasive diagnostic procedure to remove infected fluid from the body, most commonly in the abdomen or pelvis. During the procedure, an interventional radiologist uses imaging guidance to insert a thin needle or catheter into the affected area to drain the abscess fluid.

Biliary interventions are minimally invasive procedures performed to open or unblock bile ducts. Bile ducts refer to the passageway (that digestive fluid flows through) between the liver and gallbladder. When these ducts become narrowed or blocked, bile cannot pass into the small intestine, resulting in infection.

Carotid/cerebral angiograms are diagnostic procedures that utilize contrast dye and X-ray imaging to closely examine the carotid arteries, which carry blood to the brain, and the blood vessels of the brain. They are used to spot any narrowing or other abnormalities that present high risk for aneurysms or strokes.

A catheter angiography is a diagnostic/treatment procedure that generates imaging of the blood vessels. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) inserted through a limb or the groin is used to inject contrast dye that allows the blood vessels to show up in detailed X-ray imaging, revealing blockages, aneurysms, and other abnormalities.

Catheter directed thrombolysis is a nonsurgical method of treating blood clots. Often used in cases of deep vein thrombosis, which can cause pulmonary embolism, the procedure involves inserting and running a catheter to the clot-affected area and, through it, injecting clot-dissolving medicine or removing it by suction if necessary.

Coil occlusion of aneurysms is a minimally invasive procedure to treat cerebral (brain) aneurysms. A catheter is used to insert tiny, platinum coils into the aneurysm, blocking more blood from entering the aneurysm. Coil occlusion is most often used to treat unruptured aneurysms.

CT angiography is a medical test that combines a CT scan with an injection of a special dye. That dye produces pictures of blood vessels and tissues in a part of the body.

A musculoskeletal CT (computerized tomography) is a diagnostic imaging tool that provides detailed views of the bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments, and is used to detect muscle and bone damage and diagnose conditions such as osteoporosis, osteopenia, bone cancer, muscular dystrophy, and tendinitis.

A computerized tomography (CT) virtual colonography is a diagnostic imaging procedure used to examine the colon for polyps and cancer. It’s a minimally invasive alternative to a traditional colonoscopy that provides detailed X-ray imaging.

Dialysis and fistula declotting and interventions use angioplasty and stenting procedures to open up narrowed blood vessels and improve blood flow in patients receiving kidney dialysis. Dialysis requires a fistula and graft to grant the doctor access to the blood vessels to withdraw and replace the blood being treated, and these may become blocked or narrowed.

Embolization of bleeding, tumors, and vascular lesions is a procedure used to stop internal/arterial bleeding, as well as to cut off blood supply to (and thus shrink) tumors and aneurysms. Embolization is performed by inserting blocking materials (e.g., small metal coils) through a catheter.

Extracranial and intracranial angioplasty is a treatment for the narrowing or blocking (stenosis) of the carotid artery — extracranial when it’s outside the skull, intracranial when it’s inside the skull. Angioplasty (with or without stenting) is a minimally invasive procedure to widen/open blocked blood vessels.

Inferior vena filter placement and removal are procedures involving a small device (filter) in the inferior vena cava (IVC) in order to prevent blood clots, particularly deep vein thromboses, from traveling to the lungs. The IVC is located in the abdomen and carries blood from the lower body (e.g., legs and pelvis) back to the heart.

Interventions for arteriovenous malformations (abnormal connections between veins and arteries) of the brain and spine include endovascular coiling/embolization, surgical resection, and stereotactic radiosurgery, depending on the location of the malformation and whether it is ruptured or unruptured.

Paracentesis and thoracentesis are procedures used to remove built-up fluid from the body, often caused by cancer or infection. A paracentesis removes fluid from the (peritoneal) abdominal cavity. A thoracentesis removes excess fluid from the pleural cavity, between the lungs and the chest wall.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure to treat portal hypertension (high blood pressure at the liver). With X-ray imaging guidance, a small metal coil is placed in the portal vein to the liver, holding it open to keep a clear channel for blood flow and reduce blood pressure.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatment for uterine fibroids that preserves the uterus. UFE is a radiological procedure that uses a catheter and contrast dye to direct small polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles into the fibroids to block blood flow and therefore deprive them of nutrients, shrinking them.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive procedures that treat vertebral compression fractures in the spine, often the result of osteoporosis, by injecting bone cement into the vertebra. In kyphoplasty, a balloon first creates space in the center of the vertebra to restore height, which is then filled with bone cement. Both are guided by radiology and contrast dye.

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.

The CyberKnife allows patients to lie comfortably on the procedure table without anesthesia while the robotic arm moves, without touching them, to treat all areas of the tumor.

A heart, or cardiac, CT scan is used by a physician to view your heart and blood vessels. These scans create detailed images, which can help your doctor to detect any problems.

A heart MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures of the structures within and around the heart.

Radiofrequency ablation is one of the most common ablation methods for small tumors. It uses high-energy radio waves. The doctor inserts a thin, needle-like probe into the tumor through the skin. A high-frequency current is then passed through the tip of the probe, which heats the tumor and destroys the cancer cells.

Transarterial chemoembolization or TACE places chemotherapy and synthetic materials called embolic agents into a blood vessel feeding a cancerous tumor to cut off the tumor's blood supply and trap the chemotherapy within the tumor. It is most often used to treat liver cancer but may also be used in patients whose cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Chemoembolization may be used as a standalone treatment or in combination with surgery, ablation, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a catheter with a small balloon on the tip is inserted into a blocked blood vessel to widen the artery and restore blood flow. Sometimes angioplasty requires the placement of a stent (a metal mesh tube) in the artery to help keep it open permanently.

Intracranial stenting is a treatment for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) — the hardening of the arteries in the brain, which causes recurrent stroke and ischemic attacks —by placing small stents in the affected blood vessels.