Of all the relationships we develop in life, one of the most important
is that between the patient and the physician. Here at Excela Health the
cardiovascular care we provide to our patients has been recognized by
national, regional and local groups which include:
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center Plus for Cardiac Care
American Heart Association “Get With The Guidelines" Heart Failure
Quality Achievement Award
Bronze Recognition through American Heart Association “Mission Lifeline” Award
U.S. News & World Report designation for High Performing Hospitals
in the Treatment of Heart Failure.
The Heart, Lung & Vascular Center at Excela Health is the recipient
of awards from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, U.S. News & World
Report, Highmark, The American Heart Association, among others. To learn
more about Excela Health's awards and accolades,
click here.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms are enlarged sections in the lower part of the
aorta, which is a major vessel that supplies blood to the body. Often,
abdominal aortic aneurysms are symptomless and found during another medical
evaluation. The course of treatment depends on the size of the aneurysm.
Small aneurysms, which are less than 5 cm in diameter, are treated with
daily exercise, lifestyle
changes, and possible medications to help lower blood pressure. For larger
aneurysms open surgery is advised. With the placement of a prosthetic
graft, our cardiovascular specialists are able to prevent the rupturing
and worsening of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Anti-Arrhythmia Surgery
Depending on the severity of a heart arrhythmia, a pacemaker or implantable
cardioverter-defibrillator may not be enough to treat and maintain a healthy
heart. When this is the case, there are two common surgeries our cardiologists
at the Heart, Lung & Vascular Institute utilize to treat our patients.
The first being the Maze Procedure. This procedure involves a surgeon
making a series of small surgical incisions in the upper half of your
heart tissue, referred to as the atria. Because scar tissue doesn't conduct
electricity, it prevents any stray electrical impulses from causing arrythmias.
The second type of surgery to treat arrythmias is Coronary bypass surgery.
The purpose of this procedure is to improve the blood flow to the heart,
aiding in the steady beating of the heart and strengthening of the heart muscles.
Atrial Fibrillation Surgical Ablation
If a patient has an irregular heartbeat, or atrial fibrillation, treatment
ablation is a recommended procedure used to treat an irregular heart rhythm
(arrhythmia). Symptoms caused by an irregular heartbeat, such as shortness
of breath and fatigue, usually improve after undergoing one of the following
surgical procedures: Catheter Ablation, Maze Procedure, and AV Node Ablation.
The Catheter Ablation is a procedure where a cardiovascular surgeon threads a
catheter (a thin, long tube) to apply extreme cold or heat to cause tiny
scars to specific areas of the heart. The Maze Procedure is an ablation
technique where a pattern of scare tissue is created in the upper chambers
of the heart. These two procedures disrupt the erratic electrical signals
to the heart causing arrythmia. The third procedure, AV Node Ablation
or Atrioventricular Node Ablation, is
the scarring of heart tissue in an area called the AV node. This node connects
the upper and lower chambers of the heart. This scar tissue prevents the
sending of erratic electrical signals throughout the heart. Without treatment,
atrial fibrillation tends to get worse over time.
Cardiac Ablation
When a patient is suffering from an arrythmia, a form of treatment, cardiac
ablation, is recommended procedure that can help resolve heart rhythm
problems. The way that cardiac ablation works is by scarring heart tissue
that causes abnormal heart rhythms. A cardiovascular surgeon uses a small
catheter to apply extreme heat or cold to the tissues in your heart that
are the cause of the
arrythmia. By doing so, this disrupts the irregular electrical impulses
within the heart. By performing the procedure with a catheter, it is less
invasive and shortens the post-surgery recovery period.
Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
After a cardiac event or for those with lung and vascular disease, our
goal is to improve your health and quality of life. With the help of cardiac
and pulmonary rehabilitation the program centers around the strengthening
of your heart, lungs, and most importantly, your quality of life. A doctor’s
referral is needed for our rehabilitation programs, but we can assist
you in obtaining a referral.
Cardiac Catheterization
In order to accurately diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular conditions,
our cardiovascular surgeons will perform a cardiac catheterization procedure.
When using a catheter doctors can conduct diagnostic tests such as a biopsy
or reading blood pressure and flow levels, coronary angioplasties to push
plaque and widen
arteries, coronary stenting to help keep an artery open, as well as repairing
heart defects.
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery, often referred to as thoracic surgery, is the surgical
treatment of organs inside the chest. These are cardiovascular disease
treatments for conditions of the heart and lungs. If you need surgery,
it’s good to know your hearts in the right place at the Heart and
Vascular Center. The cardiothoracic surgeons have the reputation for excellence
in patient care and quality outcomes.
Diagnostic Cardiology
Diagnostic cardiology tests provide the data points and information needed
for cardiologists to create a detailed picture of how a patient's heart
is functioning. Cardiovascular specialists are able to reach a diagnosis
faster and more accurately with the advanced cardiac testing we provide.
Electrophysiology
Electrophysiology (EP) is a procedure or study is a series of tests used
to assess a patient's heart electrical system. When determining proper
cardiovascular disease treatment, it is important to accurately diagnose
abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmia through the help of EP tests. An arrhythmia,
or abnormal heartbeat, can often make patients feel as though they have
heart fluttering, chest pain, shortness of breath or dizziness. At our
dedicated electrophysiology lab, those with arrhythmia can get top quality
care from highly trained cardiovascular specialists while remaining close to home.
Heart Failure Clinic
If you've been diagnosed with heart failure, even the term may sound shocking.
It doesn't mean, however, that your heart "failed" or stopped.
It means that the heart can't pump properly to meet your body's needs.
At the Heart, Lung and Vascular institute our cardiology specialists provide
the absolute best care through a comprehensive approach and expertise
in treating heart failure.
Interventional Cardiology
Interventional Cardiology specializes in imaging and diagnostic techniques
that are used to evaluate the pressure and blood flow within the coronary
arteries and heart. This field also encompasses the treatment and diagnosis
of acquired structural heart disease, vascular disease, and coronary artery
disease. To restore and renew your heart’s health, our team of caring
experts perform a range of
treatments and procedures close to home at the Heart and Vascular Center’s
interventional suites located on the Westmoreland Hospital campus.
Open Heart Surgery
An open-heart surgery procedure is an operation done to repair a fault
or damage in the heart. The most common procedure is a coronary artery
bypass, where the arteries are blocked or narrowed, putting them at risk
of a heart attack. If you need surgery, it’s good to know your heart
is in the right place at the Heart and Vascular Center. Our cardiothoracic
surgeons have the reputation for
excellence in patient care and quality outcomes.
Thoracic Surgery
Thoracic surgery refers to the procedures and operations on organs within
the chest. This includes the lungs, esophagus, and heart. Our thoracic
surgeons, those who perform surgery or procedures on the heart, lungs,
esophagus, and other organs in the chest, are skilled in all aspects of
thoracic surgery, using minimally invasive techniques when possible.
Vascular Surgery
Vascular surgery is a medical procedure done to treat the arteries, veins
and lymphatic circulation of a patient. A vascular specialist helps manage
the therapy, performs minimally invasive catheter procedures, and surgical
reconstruction. If a problem arises from the veins and arteries rather
than the heart, vascular surgeons from the Heart and Vascular Center work
to correct circulation.
Watchman Procedure
The left atrial appendage is a small sac-like extension of the upper part
of the heart. Blood can pool in this appendage, leading to an increased
chance of having a stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. The surgeons
at IHS are performing a minimally invasive procedure called Watchman ™
in selected patients. The surgeon makes a small incision in the patient’s
leg and inserts a narrow tube to deliver the WATCHMAN™ implant to
the left atrial appendage
which will close the appendage.
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