Cardiac Interventional Procedures

Our Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center team specializes in various interventional procedures to address coronary artery disease, restore blood flow and improve cardiac function.

Atherectomy

Atherectomy may be done during cardiac catheterization to open a partially blocked coronary artery. Once the catheter reaches the narrowed portion of the artery, a cutting device, a whirling blade (such as a rotor blade), is used to remove the plaque.

Rotoblader

An atherectomy is an invasive cardiology interventional procedure to remove plaque developed in the coronary arteries. The method utilizes cardiac catheterization techniques to deliver a catheter to the affected coronary artery. A Rotoblader device, which "borrows" its way through the plaque, is an effective atherectomy technique.

Using a special catheter inserted into the coronary artery, the rotoblader cuts its way into the plaque with a diamond-tipped head, pulverizing it into microscopic pieces that float downstream and are disposed of by your body. The technique is most effective in calcified plaque or soft-stone consistency. There are several variants of the atherectomy (rotoblader) procedure. These procedures are named by the type of cutting device at the tip of the catheter, such as rotational, directional, or extraction.

STEMI Receiving Center

STEMI denotes a type of heart attack that needs immediate, specialized care. When notified of a STEMI patient, PVHMC's emergency and cardiac staff respond urgently to enact live-saving measures. Patients are immediately assessed and stabilized and then taken to the Cardiac Catheterization (CATH) Lab for an angioplasty, whereby blockages in the heart are crushed, arteries are opened and secured, and lives are saved.

Angioplasty & Stenting

Angioplasty is a procedure in which a small balloon is inflated into a blocked artery. The balloon is inflated once the catheter has been guided to the proper location in a coronary artery. The pressure from the inflated balloon presses the plaque against the artery wall to improve blood flow.

Stenting is usually performed along with angioplasty. Once the plaque is compressed using angioplasty, a small expandable wire tube called a stent is inserted into the artery to hold it open.

ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation)

ECMO is a life-saving technique used for patients with severe cardiac or respiratory failure. This advanced intervention temporarily bypasses the heart and lungs, allowing the blood to be oxygenated outside the body through an artificial membrane. ECMO provides vital support during critical situations, ensuring adequate oxygenation and circulation until the patient's condition stabilizes.

IMPELLA

IMPELLA is a ventricular assist device (VAD) that supports the heart's pumping function in patients with weakened cardiac output. This device is inserted through a catheter into the heart's ventricle, where it helps deliver blood flow and relieve strain on the heart muscle. IMPELLA is a valuable tool in managing acute heart failure and supporting recovery in challenging cardiac scenarios.

Targeted Temperature Management

Patients who experience Cardiac Arrest need urgent care! The Emergency Department and Cardiac Services now offer a unique treatment to assist patients with this condition. Upon arrival in the Emergency Department, patients are immediately assessed and evaluated for therapeutic temperature management treatment. If needed, patients are entirely sedated and undergo the internal lowering of their core body temperature to relieve pressure on the brain and body and allow them to heal over days. Patients frequently walk out of the hospital within a week with no complications and go on to lead active, healthy lives.