Interventional Cardiology

Nationally Recognized Cardiac Catheterization Services

Catholic Health’s interventional cardiology services across Long Island give patients access to minimally invasive catheter-based procedures that improve their quality of life. Our nationally recognized interventional cardiologists diagnose and treat structural heart diseases and other complex cardiac conditions.

Minimally invasive cardiac catheterization procedures offer numerous benefits over more complex open heart surgery, including fewer incisions, less bleeding, shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times.

Catholic Health is transforming interventional cardiology, using the latest and most advanced technology for diagnostic procedures and treatments that provide the best long-term outcomes for our patients.

Our 3D precision angioplasty sets us apart. We are pioneers in using optical coherence tomography (OCT) alongside coronary angiography. OCT is an advanced technique that uses infrared light to create high-resolution images of the coronary arteries. It allows our interventional cardiologists to customize the length and width of a stent to the millimeter for accurate and precise placement.

We offer cardiac catheterization services at St. Francis Heart Center locations in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Conditions We Treat

Congenital heart defects
Coronary artery disease
Heart attack
Heart failure
Peripheral artery disease
Pulmonary embolism

Interventional Cardiology Procedures

Catholic Health’s advanced procedures treat common and complex cardiac conditions.

Coronary Angioplasty

A coronary angioplasty restores blood flow to the heart using a catheter to insert a small balloon or stent to open one or more arteries blocked by plaque. This procedure is a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery.

At Catholic Health, we use optical coherence tomography (OCT) alongside a coronary angiography. OCT is an advanced technique that uses infrared light to create high-resolution images of the coronary arteries. Our cardiologists use these images to guide and precisely place a stent.

Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization evaluates how the heart, blood vessels and valves are working. It helps cardiologists diagnose and treat clogged arteries, irregular heartbeats and other cardiovascular diseases.

The procedure involves guiding a thin catheter through vessels in the legs or arm into the coronary arteries. It takes about a half-hour under local or general anesthesia. Most patients can return home about two hours after the procedure. Recovery time is typically longer for patients treated for a heart attack.

Learn more about our chest pain services

Repair of Heart Defects (Device Occlusion)

Device occlusion involves threading a special catheter through a vein in the leg to the heart and using it to position a small umbrella-like device to seal a hole in a patient’s heart. With faster recovery times and fewer risks than open-heart surgery, this technique is an option for:

Atrial septal defect. The congenital hole between the upper chambers of the heart.
Patent foramen ovale (PFO). A defect occurs when a flap in the wall of the heart fails to close naturally.

Pulmonary Embolisms

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks one or more arteries in the lungs. Prompt treatment is required.

Inari Medical FlowTriever is a mechanical thrombectomy device used to treat pulmonary embolisms by safely and effectively removing large clots from the pulmonary arteries without thrombolytic drugs.

EKOS is an interventional device that uses ultrasound and medications to dissolve blood clots.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

An interventional cardiologist may recommend TAVR to replace a diseased heart valve if the aortic heart valve is not working correctly. A mechanical valve made from surgical-grade material or a biological value made from pig or cow tissue replaces the aortic valve.

Learn more about TAVR