CentraState not only has the capability to open blocked arteries during a heart attack, but our interventional cardiologists can also skillfully perform this lifesaving procedure before it becomes an emergency.
The medical center received licensing approval from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) to perform elective angioplasty, also known as elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatment is a safe and effective procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries to restore blood flow to the heart without requiring open-heart surgery. CentraState interventional cardiologists also perform this procedure if a patient is experiencing a heart attack, in which case it is called emergency angioplasty. “Elective angioplasty is an important addition to our tools for treating cardiovascular disease,” says Jatinchandra Patel, DO, medical director of CentraState’s Cardiovascular Interventional Laboratory. “The majority of patients recover quickly and experience immediate improvement in symptoms. Most go home the same day and can resume normal activities within a week.”
In March 2022, CentraState opened its state-of-the-art Cardiovascular Interventional Laboratory to centralize cardiac catheterization, endovascular and interventional radiology services while adding capacity to serve more patients. Later that year, CentraState received approval from the NJDOH to perform emergency angioplasty. The new elective angioplasty license enables interventional cardiologists to perform diagnostic testing and, if needed, necessary treatment during one visit, better serving patients with cardiac disease close to home.
How Angioplasty Works
During angioplasty, a thin, flexible catheter is inserted through the wrist or groin and threaded through the arteries of the heart. A small balloon is inserted to open the blocked artery and restore blood flow to heart tissue. A stent is usually put in place as well, which helps prevent the artery from becoming blocked again in the future.
CARDIOLOGY SERVICES AT CENTRASTATE
Learn more about the cardiology services at CentraState.
