Many Treatments for Heart Conditions at St. Luke’s

There are many types of treatments for heart diseases. The following are some of these treatments performed at St. Luke’s:

Angioplasty – A procedure during which a small balloon is used to open a blockage in a heart artery that has been narrowed by plaque buildup in order to improve blood flow to the heart.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – CPR is a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions used on a person whose heart has stopped or is no longer breathing. CPR can help the lungs get oxygen and blood pump throughout the body until emergency medical personnel arrive. It should only be performed by people who have had CPR training.

Directional and rotational atherectomies – Procedures to remove plaque from arteries. Plaque is the accumulated fat, cholesterol and other substances on an artery's wall.

Heart bypass surgery – Also known as an coronary artery bypass graft. In this procedure, surgeons use arteries or veins from other parts of the body to reroute blood around clogged arteries. This improves blood flow and oxygen to the heart.

Heart transplant – During this surgery, a damaged or diseased heart is removed and replaced with a healthy donor heart.

Implantable defibrillator – A device placed inside the body that monitors heart rate. When needed, this defibrillator can send electric pulses to a heart that is beating too slow or deliver an electric shock to make a heart that is beating too fast return to a normal rhythm.

Intra aortic balloon pump insertion – A device inserted in the body that features a balloon attached to the end of a thin tube that is inserted into the femoral artery in the groin and connects to the aorta. The balloon inflates and deflates to help the heart pump blood throughout the body.

Pacemaker – A small device placed under the skin of the chest or abdomen that controls abnormal heart rhythms with electrical pulses.

Stent placement – A stent is a tiny tube made of plastic, metal or fabric placed into an artery or blood vessel to keep it open. Stents allow blood to flow without obstruction.

Clinical Trial Research at St. Luke's

St. Luke's cardiologists and cardiac surgeons participate in a variety of clinical research trials and studies. These clinical trials provide patients with access to the latest medical and surgical techniques, technology and therapies. In this way, St. Luke's is able to offer new devices, therapies and medications to patients prior to FDA approval.

For more information on clinical trials and other studies, call St. Luke's Regional Heart Center at 1-888-HEART-75.