Cardiovascular Medicine
Interventional Cardiology Section
The interventional cardiology section of the division of cardiology utilizes multiple modalities in the percutaneous treatment of cardiovascular disease. All diagnostic (including intracoronary Doppler, fractional flow reserve, and intravascular ultrasound) and interventional techniques are available to patients (intracoronary angioplasty, stenting, rotational atherectomy, thrombectomy, distal protection). There is a full complement of catheter-based treatment available for peripheral arterial disease. Patients have access to percutaneous treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as well as atrial septal defects and patent foramen ovale. All faculty are university trained and board certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. In addition to the five full-time faculty the section includes a part-time interventionalist with a focus on vascular biology, and two nurse practitioners specializing in both the inpatient and outpatient care of interventional patients. There is also a dedicated nursing staff for patient follow-up in the outpatient setting.
Research
All faculty are involved in research and some of the current projects underway include:
- Evaluation of endothelial function in patients with ischemic heart disease and cardiac transplantation
- Evaluation of selective adenosine antagonists on ischemia-induced AV block
- Ischemic preconditioning during coronary intervention
- Various multicenter trials assessing treatments for acute coronary syndromes
- Clinical trials involving percutaneous device development including new generation stent technology
- Investigation of gender differences in ischemic heart disease
- Clinical trials of surgical versus percutaneous revascularization
- Catheter-based delivery of cell therapy
- Use of percutaneous revascularization in transplant vasculopathy
- The study of anti-inflammatory proteins in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous intervention.
Training Program
All cardiology fellows rotate through the cardiac catheterization laboratories. Interventional cardiology fellows spend a dedicated year learning the techniques of intracoronary angioplasty and stenting in addition to the adjunctive diagnostic procedures noted above. Training in advanced interventional techniques is also stressed. There is also a focus on patient pre-procedure assessment, identification and management of procedural complications, post-procedure follow-up, and disease prevention. The complete management of patients in the peri-procedural period and the incorporation of evidence-based medicine are stressed. Fellows become proficient in the indications for and application of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation as well as percutaneous pericardiocentesis. The training program is augmented by regular case conferences, didactic lectures, and journal clubs. At the end of the interventional training year cardiology fellows may sit for the ABIM sanctioned subspecialty interventional cardiology board certification exam.
Faculty
- R. David Anderson, M.D.
- Juan M. Aranda, Jr., M.D.
- Scott J. Denardo, M.D.
- James A. Hill, M.D.
- Alexandra R. Lucas, M.D.
- Karen M. Smith, M.D.