Lifesaving Care for Your Heart
In a heart-related emergency, don’t leave anything to chance. Trust your care to our experienced interventional cardiology team. Our interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons excel at performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with access to the latest technologies. Also called coronary angioplasty, PCI is a minimally invasive, catheter-based treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD). This disease is the leading cause of heart attack and one of the most common reasons for interventional heart care. Rest assured that when you need immediate heart care, our interventional cardiologists will be here to meet your needs.
We’re here to help you find the right physician or a location that’s convenient for you.
Always Ready, Always There
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Rapid Response, Wherever You Are
At our Florida locations, the Code STEMI team’s response time is faster than the national average — and the Florida Flight 1 helicopter is also ready to take flight if needed.
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Fewer Complications, Greater Chances
Get treated by a team that’s relentless in reviewing your case in detail, so they can weigh every potential treatment option. It’s why our patients see better outcomes than the national average.
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Acute Cardiogenic Shock Team
Our Acute Cardiogenic Shock Team is comprised of dedicated specialists focused on lifesaving treatments and preventing serious complications associated with acute cardiogenic shock, including liver and kidney damage.
Be Informed About PCI to Feel Empowered
- When Is PCI Performed?
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Cardiologists perform percutaneous coronary interventions for STEMI and non-STEMI heart attacks. A severe heart attack, or acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), can be fatal without fast, effective treatment. Our specialists excel at delivering urgent, lifesaving care.
If a coronary artery is entirely blocked, we can perform chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention (CTO PCI). This is a highly specialized procedure that requires the expertise of our world-class team.
A PCI procedure may also be done for people who haven’t had a heart attack but who have severe coronary artery disease. Angioplasty and stenting can help prevent a cardiac emergency.
- How Is PCI Performed?
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During this heart attack treatment procedure, your cardiologist inserts a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin or wrist. The catheter is threaded up to the coronary artery that is blocked by atherosclerosis, or plaque build-up. Once your cardiologist identifies the exact location of the blockage, they can inflate a tiny balloon in the artery to allow blood flow. This procedure is called balloon angioplasty. In some cases, cardiologists implant a stent (small metal or plastic tube) in the artery to hold it open.
- What Are the Benefits of PCI?
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By quickly restoring blood flow to the blocked artery, we can ease chest pain, limit heart muscle damage from oxygen deprivation and save lives, making PCI the gold standard of heart attack treatment.
We Make Sure You Never Miss a Beat
- Code STEMI Program (Central Florida)
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When seconds count, the Code STEMI (short for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, a very serious type of heart attack) Team at AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute in Central Florida is ready with a dedicated team of interventional cardiologists and an on-site cath lab available 24/7.
Treatment begins as soon as emergency medical services (EMS) personnel alert the Code STEMI Team via beepers that a patient is in route. The Code STEMI team then jumps into action by advising EMS to conduct 12-lead electrocardiograms before the patient even arrives in the emergency room. If a patient is located outside the area, the Florida Flight 1 helicopter is ready to take flight and transport them to the closest AdventHealth Code STEMI team.
- Exceptional Door-to-Balloon Times
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When you or a loved one has a heart attack and every second counts, you need lifesaving care, fast.
A measurement referred to as “door-to-balloon time” tracks the time between when a heart attack patient is admitted to the emergency room and when a hospital performs a balloon angioplasty to open up a blocked artery.
The American Heart Association recommends a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes or less for the best possible outcomes for people who’ve had a STEMI heart attack.
In 2019, we averaged 55 minutes — nearly half of the national average.
- A Team Working Together for You
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As leaders in clinical research, AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute locations offer you some of the latest techniques and therapies for your heart.
With access to cardiac catheterization (cath) labs designed for interventional procedures, our highly trained interventional cardiologists and heart surgeons work together to treat life-threatening conditions. Here, you’ll be supported by a community that’s committed to results at every step of your care.
- Interventional Cardiology Procedures
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Rest assured that your heart is in the hands of a highly trained, multidisciplinary team skilled in various interventional cardiology treatments. Depending on your condition, our team may perform one of the following procedures:
Carotid Angioplasty
If you have a blocked or narrow carotid artery, it’s likely being caused by stenosis or a buildup of plaque. An angioplasty is a minimally invasive technique that will increase the blood flow to treat your condition, often with less pain and a faster recovery than traditional procedures.
Your interventional cardiologist will gently insert a catheter and guide it to where the blockage is located. A balloon at the end of the catheter will be inflated and used to either flatten the plaque or widen the opening of the artery. In some cases, your surgeon may decide it’s best to place a stent to keep the artery open.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
If your coronary artery is blocked or you have coronary artery disease, your surgeon may perform PCI. This catheter-based procedure widens the vessel, sometimes using stents to keep it open after the procedure. If you have myocardial infarction or unstable angina, PCI may reduce your risk of future incidents.
Percutaneous Valve Replacement
This advanced treatment is a less-invasive alternative to open-heart surgery. Your surgeon will replace your damaged or diseased heart valve through a minimally invasive needle puncture, which typically involves less pain and a faster recovery than traditional procedures.
Because each person's heart condition is different, your team will review every aspect of your medical history and test results to determine the best treatment for you.
Cardiologists Who Put Your Heart First
Your heart supports your whole health — and so do our physicians. Count on our experienced cardiologists near you to design a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, so your heart can beat stronger for longer.
Advanced Technology for Your Heart
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
- WATCHMAN FLX™
- Micra™ Pacemaker
- Philips Azurion Image-Guided Therapy
For people who have severe aortic stenosis (a narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve) and may not be candidates for open-heart surgery, groundbreaking procedures like TAVR offer a safer alternative.
AdventHealth surgeons and interventional cardiologists were some of the first in Florida to perform this less-invasive option, which is done through a small incision in the leg.
With advanced procedures like TAVR, we’re elevating our heart care and improving clinical outcomes that mean fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries for our patients.
The WATCHMAN FLX is a small device that’s implanted inside the left atrial appendage (small pouch in the top left heart chamber), closing off a part of the heart where blood clots most commonly form.
Implanting the FLX is a minimally invasive, one-time procedure that helps prevent blood clots, lowering your risk for stroke. The procedure is completed within an hour and patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next day.
If you’re experiencing an irregular heartbeat and can’t tolerate blood thinners, the FLX could help. To see if this device could be right for you, click below to learn more.
About the size of a vitamin capsule, Micra is the world’s smallest pacemaker, designed for patients with a slow heart rate. Unlike most pacemakers, Micra is leadless and implanted directly into the heart — all in one minimally invasive procedure with no chest incision needed.
Because Micra is self-contained within the heart, it eliminates possible medical complications arising from a chest incision and from the wires with conventional pacemakers. By using Micra, we’re able to help our patients get back to their regular activities without restrictions.
In the operating room, advanced technologies mean smarter, safer and more efficient procedures. The Azurion image-guided therapy platform from Philips is a next-generation technology we use in cardiovascular procedures.
This system gives our cardiologists superior imagery and surgical precision. It can also put the controls at your bedside, so your doctor doesn't need to step away to review your measurements. With smarter systems like Azurion, our heart experts are better able to treat complex cardiovascular issues to help you heal.
Support and Rehab to Regain Your Rhythm
Adjusting to new medicine and everyday life after interventional treatment can feel overwhelming. But you’ve got this. With support groups and our cardiac rehab program, we'll be with you at every step.
Find Interventional Cardiology Care Near You
Across the country, each of our locations contributes to the strength of the AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute network. Explore your options for care close to home with the guidance of our dedicated team. We’ll help you find the right fit, so you’re in the best setting to get the care you need.