CARDIAC AND VASCULAR
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
From emergencies to chronic conditions, the highly skilled physicians at O’Connor accurately, quickly and expertly diagnose all cardiac and vascular conditions. Our surgeons and technologists have decades of experience and specialized training, which translates into excellent outcomes for our patients.
As a designated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Blue Distinction® Center for Cardiac Care, we are capable of treating the most complex cases. And because our cardiac and vascular surgeons are experts in both minimally invasive and open surgery procedures, you always receive the most personalized treatment for your condition.
ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT
It all starts with an accurate diagnosis. At O’Connor, specially trained technologists use the most advanced equipment available to assist the physician in identifying your condition correctly.
Cardiac diagnostic tools include:
- X-ray and MRI
- Electrocardiography (EKG)
- Echocardiogram and stress echocardiogram
- Exercise treadmill EKG stress testing
- Diagnostic cardiac catheterizations
- Thallium stress test
- Electrophysiology studies
Vascular diagnostic tools include:
- X-ray and MRI
- Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), a noninvasive imaging device that does not use radiation or contrast dyes and, therefore, is safe to use on patients with kidney disease
CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LABS
In our catheterization labs, we insert a thin tube called a catheter into a large blood vessel that leads to your heart. This procedure enables our physicians and technicians to evaluate how well your heart, valves and arteries are working.
We use these lab procedures for both evaluation and treatment of cardiac and vascular issues.
Some of these procedures include:
- Angioplasty and stenting: A technique to widen the narrowing in the artery without surgery. We often place a stent in the artery to prevent it from collapsing and to improve blood flow.
- Atherectomy: A procedure to remove plaque from arteries.
- Thrombolytic Infusions: Infusions of “clot-busting” medications to remove blood clots.
- Tilt table test: Used to determine how the body responds to changes in position while we continuously monitor symptoms, heart rate and blood pressure.
- Thrombectomy: The removal of a blood clot from the coronary arteries.
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY (EP) LAB
The body’s electrical system sends impulses to the heart muscle, telling it when to pump blood. A change in the pace or pattern of a heartbeat is called an arrhythmia.
In our EP lab, we conduct studies to determine from where the arrhythmia is coming. We also use the lab to perform the appropriate treatment to correct the irregular heartbeat.
Treatment options include:
- Medication
- A pacemaker
- An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- Ablation
- Surgery
ADVANCED CARDIAC AND VASCULAR TREATMENT
We are a certified Chest Pain Center and a designated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Blue Distinction® Center for Cardiac Care. All our surgeons are board certified with expertise in both minimally invasive and conventional open surgery.
Surgeries can be performed as a minimally invasive procedure or as open surgery procedure. Our surgeons have the experience and expertise to make the best treatment decision based on your specific condition and overall health.
O’Connor uses a hybrid operating room that allows surgeons to switch from one type of procedure to the other, which is often necessary.
Benefits of minimally invasive heart and vascular procedures include:
- Shorter hospital stays
- Less blood loss
- Less pain medication
- Quicker recovery
- Less risk of complications
- Smaller scar
Common cardiac treatments
- Coronary bypass
- Valve repair
- Valve replacement
- Open heart surgery (including coronary bypass)
Common vascular treatments
- Balloon angioplasty and stenting
- Abdominal aortic stent grafts and carotid stent
- Bypass with vein and synthetic grafts
- Open repairs of aneurysms and carotid artery repairs
- Atherectomy, a technique used to remove plaque in arteries