Interventional cardiology
Innovative heart treatments without open surgery
Interventional cardiology is a specialized branch of heart and vascular care that focuses on using minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel conditions. Instead of traditional open-heart surgery, interventional cardiologists use thin, flexible tubes called catheters to access the heart and arteries through small incisions. These procedures, known as catheterizations, can help open blocked arteries, repair heart valves, and treat other cardiovascular issues with less recovery time and lower risk compared to more invasive surgeries.
At Penn Medicine, our interventional cardiologists offer the most advanced treatments for heart and blood vessel issues. As the most experienced interventional cardiology team in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, we specialize in innovative care that delivers exceptional results, even for complex cases. We regularly see patients who may not be candidates for traditional surgery. Our interventional cardiologists offer advanced solutions, giving high-risk patients new options and hope.
Benefits of interventional cardiology
Interventional procedures offer multiple benefits, including:
- Treatment for heart attacks and improving symptoms of angina: Interventional procedures often involve opening blocked arteries, which increases blood flow and can stop an ongoing heart attack or improve more chronic symptoms related to blockages.
- Faster recovery: Not only do interventional cardiology procedures take less time than open surgery, but they also offer shorter recoveries. People typically return home the next day or even the same day as their procedure.
- Lower risk of complications: Because of their less invasive approach, catheter-based procedures are ideal for higher-risk patients, such as elderly people and those with multiple health conditions.
- Minimal pain and scarring: The small incision used during interventional cardiology procedures is barely detectable after healing. People experience far less pain during recovery than they do after open-heart surgeries.
Leading interventional cardiology care at Penn Medicine
With unmatched experience in interventional cardiology across the greater Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Princeton areas, we offer a variety of advanced treatments. From coronary and peripheral interventions to structural heart disease care, we deliver exceptional results, even for the most challenging cases.
Coronary interventions use catheters to access the heart’s blood vessels through a small incision in the wrist, arm, neck, or groin. These techniques allow us to open blocked arteries, measure pressure in the heart chambers, or take tissue samples.
Peripheral interventions use catheters to access blood vessels outside the heart. These procedures help open blocked vessels, remove blood clots, and lower high blood pressure.
Structural heart diseases affect the heart’s muscles, walls, chambers, or valves. Many structural heart disease treatments use catheters to open narrowed heart valves, close holes in your heart, or replace damaged valves.
Heart conditions we treat
- Blood clot in heart
- Pulmonary valve disease
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)
Interventional cardiology treatments at Penn Medicine
We’re one of the few hospitals to offer all available FDA-approved technologies to remove blood clots or dissolve medicine. We consistently meet and exceed national benchmarks. Our program holds the highest ranking from the Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT) Registry. We’re the only medical system in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey region with the highest possible TVT rating, reflecting our excellence in procedures like transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Our cardiology specialists work closely with you to determine which treatment will give you the best possible outcome.
Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT)
A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a blood clot travels to the pulmonary arteries, blocking the blood supply to the lungs. PE is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
At Penn Medicine, our Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) provides rapid care for emergency PE cases and offers long-term follow-up once you leave the hospital. We collaborate regularly to create customized treatment plans for patients with severe PE, ensuring effective and tailored care.
We rank among the country’s top 10 most advanced centers for PE treatment and we’re one of only about 20 chronic PE response teams nationwide. As one of the first functioning PERTs, we helped establish the standards of care now used across the United States. Additionally, we played a key role in developing the International PERT Consortium, a global initiative focused on improving PE evaluation and treatment.
Our doctors
Our providers work with you to plan and deliver exceptional treatment and personalized care.
Locations
Our hospitals, multispecialty medical centers, pharmacies, labs and more offer outstanding, personalized care for patients all across the region.
Related articles
$25M trial uses phones to gamify steps, fight heart disease
Penn Medicine researchers have been awarded $25M to conduct a trial using smartphones to fight heart disease.
Study identifies new prognostic biomarker for heart failure
Bloodstream levels of a protein fragment called endotrophin can be used to predict outcomes in patients with a common form of heart failure.
Patient stories
Back on the road after treatment for Afib
Rick Smith’s life mantra—“The days are long, but the years are short”—serves as a reminder for him to keep living life to the fullest, whether he’s behind the wheel of a truck or enjoying time with his wife of 42 years and their daughter.
Heart healthy and back in the race
Sanjay Shah had signed up for the Philadelphia Triathlon before he learned he need angioplasty. “I told my doctor ‘look, I have so much faith that I signed up to do a triathlon. I will cross that finish line,’” he said.
The right hospitals at the right time
“Knowing there was a really good hospital I had access to in my time of need was important,” said Molly Fadden, who had a smooth and swift transfer from Chester County Hospital to Penn Presbyterian during a medical emergency that required an advanced procedure. Now she’s back on her feet and recovering.
Heart valve treatment, delivered with heart
“The entire process was outstanding, ” said Nancy Holland. I had a nurse navigator who helped me line up all of my tests and appointments. I always knew what was going on. Dr. Tran was so kind and thorough and made sure I really understood what was happening.”
Back on the dance floor
“The cardiac care at Doylestown Health is phenomenal,” said Norma McPeak, who underwent heart failure treatment at 85. “Everyone is so kind!” Being close to home also allowed visits from her extended family during her preoperative inpatient stay.
A clinical trial offered an innovative treatment
“I thought that by taking part in a research study, I could be helpful to younger people who may have AFib in the future,” said Ellen O’Brien. She became one of the first patients to benefit from a now-approved minimally invasive technique and is back to her active life.