At Penn Medicine, our interventional cardiologists are experts in peripheral interventions to treat blood vessels outside the heart. We use state-of-the-art tools and techniques to improve blood flow, remove clots and increase quality of life.
What are Peripheral Interventions?
Peripheral vascular interventions are interventional cardiology treatments that use a flexible, hollow tube (catheter) to access blood vessels outside the heart. We use these techniques to open blocked blood vessels, remove blood clots and even lower high blood pressure. Our interventional cardiologists use the latest advanced techniques, continuing to build on our long history of excellence and innovation.
In the past, many procedures to treat blood vessels required a large incision that made procedures more painful and recovery longer. Peripheral vascular interventions allow us to treat blood vessels outside the heart without making large incisions. This minimally invasive approach offers people faster recoveries with less pain, a lower risk of complications and a shorter hospital stay.
Our interventional cardiologists offer an extensive range of peripheral interventional treatments, including:
- Atherectomy, removing hardened plaque from arteries by using a catheter with a sharp blade, laser or rotating device on the end
- Balloon pulmonary angioplasty, using small balloons to push clots and scar tissue out of the way and open pulmonary arteries
- Peripheral angioplasty, using a small balloon to open a blocked artery
- Pulmonary embolectomy, using catheter techniques to remove blood clots from the lungs
- Renal denervation, strategically damaging renal nerves to reduce blood pressure
Conditions Treated with Peripheral Interventions
Our team treats many common conditions that affect the blood vessels, such as peripheral artery disease, or blocked arteries in the lower limbs. We also have the skills and expertise to offer innovative treatments for complex conditions such as pulmonary embolism. Doctors use a wide range of techniques, including investigational therapies, to bring you the most advanced care.
We treat an array of conditions with peripheral vascular interventions, including:
- Blood clots: These gel-like clumps of blood can partly or completely block blood flow. They may prevent oxygen from reaching your tissues, or they can cause fluid buildup and swelling.
- Carotid artery disease: The carotid arteries, which carry blood from the heart to the brain, narrow. This significantly increases the risk of stroke, a medical emergency occurring when there is an interruption in blood flow in the brain.
- Critical limb ischemia (CLI): Severely blocked arteries reduce blood flow to the lower limbs, causing severe pain and open sores (lesions). CLI is an advanced stage of peripheral artery disease that significantly increases the risk of limb loss.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): A blood clot forms in the deep veins of the legs. This may cause leg pain and swelling. Without treatment, the blood clot may break off and block blood flow to the lungs, an emergency known as a pulmonary embolism.
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Narrowing occurs in the blood vessels that supply blood to the lower limbs (peripheral arteries). This is typically a result of fatty deposits (plaque) building up in the peripheral arteries.
- Peripheral vascular disease: Narrowing or spasming occurs in blood vessels outside the heart. Most commonly, this affects the peripheral arteries (peripheral artery disease), but it may also affect blood vessels in the arms, stomach or kidneys.
- Pulmonary embolism (pulmonary embolus): A clot in the pulmonary arteries blocks blood flow to the lungs. This emergency condition may cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing.
Peripheral Interventions: The Penn Medicine Advantage
Specialists in the Penn Interventional Cardiology Program offer a range of peripheral interventions. When you choose our team, you benefit from:
- Clinical trial treatments: At Penn Medicine, you have access to clinical trial treatments. We are one of a handful of centers leading the way in renal denervation, an innovative clinical trial treatment for hypertension. Our specialists were part of the first trial for shockwave intravascular lithotripsy, making us one of the first in the world to offer this treatment for blocked arteries.
- Expert treatment for pulmonary embolism: Our Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) offers exceptional, collaborative care for patients with blood clots in their lungs (pulmonary embolus). We were one of the first functioning PERTs in the country, establishing the standards of care now used nationwide. Our team continues to study new treatments, bringing you the latest leading-edge options.
- Team-based care: Our interventional cardiologists work closely with multiple specialists, including the experts in the Penn Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy Program. We also collaborate with the American Society of Hypertension (ASH)-certified Comprehensive Hypertension Center. This center is one of only a few dozen centers in the country with the ASH certification, highlighting our expertise in high blood pressure treatment.
- Limb-sparing techniques: We are experts in critical limb ischemia treatment, clearing severe blockages in the arteries that send blood to the limbs. Interventional cardiologists work closely with experts in the Penn Advanced Limb Preservation (PALP) for Vascular Conditions Using interventional techniques such as peripheral angioplasty, we can open blockages to restore blood flow and save your limb from amputation.
- Treatment for complex cases: We are a major regional referral center, taking on the most complex cases of conditions affecting the blood vessels. If you have high risks associated with surgery or have been turned down for open surgery, our interventional cardiologists offer advanced treatments.
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Please call 800-789-7366 or request a callback.