Interventional Cardiology

Heart & Vascular

Our highly trained interventional cardiologists have the skills and experience to care for rare and complex heart conditions. Our range of minimally invasive procedures means you have more options when it comes to treatment. 

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Minimally invasive heart treatments: Why choose us?

BJC HealthCare works with Washington University physicians, BJC Medical Group, and providers across the region to deliver extraordinary care. Barnes-Jewish Hospital was the first in Missouri to perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a groundbreaking procedure for heart valve disease. We’re known as a leader in the Midwest for minimally invasive heart treatments.

When you choose our care team you’ll find:

  • Pioneers in interventional cardiology: We were the first in Missouri to perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a groundbreaking procedure for heart valve disease. Our cardiologists are consistently at the forefront of the latest interventions for heart disease.  
  • High volumes, more experience: We have one of the highest-volume cardiac catheterization labs in the region. We’re qualified to diagnose and care for complex forms of heart disease, even if previous therapies have failed.  
  • Focus on structural heart disease: Our interventional cardiologists specialize in heart valve disease, adult congenital heart disease and other conditions affecting your heart’s structure. We offer minimally invasive alternatives to traditional open-heart surgery.  
  • Team approach: Interventional cardiologists coordinate your treatment with experts in cardiology, interventional radiology, heart surgery, electrophysiology and other specialty areas, as needed. You receive all the care you need under one roof.
What is interventional cardiology? 

Interventional cardiology is a subspecialty of cardiology. It uses minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat heart disease. Specially trained cardiologists use catheters (long, thin tubes) and special instruments to treat heart conditions without open-heart surgery. 

We perform these procedures, called cardiac catheterization (cath), on an outpatient basis. You usually go home the same day. 

Your doctor makes a tiny incision into a blood vessel, usually in your groin or wrist, in a cardiac cath procedure. They insert the catheter into the vessel and guide it to the area of your heart that needs treatment. 

Benefits of cardiac catheterization include: 

  • Faster recovery 

  • Less pain 

  • Reduced bleeding or scarring 

  • Usually, no hospital stay 

  • Decreased risk of complications 

Heart and vascular conditions treated

Our skilled interventional cardiologists use cardiac catherizations to diagnose and treat a range of heart and vascular conditions, including: 

  • Adult congenital heart disease
    Some people have structural heart problems from birth. These diseases can affect your heart's blood vessels, valves or chambers.
  • Aortic diseases
    Aortic diseases, such as aneurysms or aortic valve stenosis, affect the main blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to your body.
  • Coronary artery disease
    Coronary artery disease develops when plaque builds up in the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart. It can lead to a heart attack.
  • Heart rhythm disorders
    A heart rhythm disorder, or arrhythmia, means your heart beats too fast, too slow or has an abnormal pattern.
  • Heart valve disease
    Heart valve disease describes a problem with one or more of the four valves in your heart. Your heart has to work harder to pump blood.
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
    Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a thickened heart muscle. Over time, your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.
  • Left atrial appendage (LAA)
    LAA is a small pouch in the upper-left chambers of your heart. Blood clots can develop in the pouch and lead to stroke.
  • Vascular disease
    Vascular disease affects blood vessels anywhere in your body. Examples include blood clots, aneurysms and peripheral artery disease.
Related conditions
  • Heart valve disease
Interventional cardiology procedures offered

Our interventional cardiologists perform cardiac catheterizations to diagnose and treat heart conditions. In many cases, we can evaluate and treat the issue during the same procedure.

Procedures performed by our interventional cardiologists include: 

  • Coronary angiography
    We check your coronary arteries (blood vessels that carry blood to your heart) for blockages, damage or blood clots.
  • Intracoronary doppler assessment
    We measure blood flow through your heart's arteries to check for stenosis (narrowing).
  • Intravascular ultrasound
    This procedure, also called ultrasound angiography, uses a catheter with ultrasound to create images of the inside of your blood vessels.
  • Left ventriculography
    This procedure uses X-rays to create moving pictures of the chambers and valves on the left side of your heart.
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
    OCT uses light to create detailed images of the inside of blood vessels. We examine plaque buildup and clots or measure your blood vessels.
  • Right heart catheterization
    We check for signs of pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the arteries that carry blood from your heart to your lungs.
  • Angioplasty and stenting
    We use a catheter to expand a tiny balloon inside a narrowed blood vessel. Next, we implant a stent (mesh tube) in the blood vessel to hold it open.
  • Alcohol septal ablation
    Interventional cardiologists use alcohol to shrink areas where your heart muscle is too thick due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • Atherectomy
    We use this minimally invasive procedure to shave away plaque inside narrowed arteries. It helps restore blood flow.
  • Closures for abnormal openings
    Cardiologists use interventional techniques to treat patent foramen ovale and septal defects, which are holes between your heart's chambers.
  • Minimally invasive mitral valve repair
    We treat mitral valve regurgitation by repairing the leaky valve with special clips. The procedure can help prevent heart failure.
  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
    During TAVR surgery, interventional cardiologists place an artificial valve inside your narrowed aortic valve.
  • Valvuloplasty
    We widen narrowed blood vessels by using a catheter to inflate a small balloon inside the vessel.
  • Heart pumps
    Interventional cardiologists use catheters to place small devices inside your heart to help it pump blood more efficiently.
  • Thrombectomy
    We use endovascular techniques to remove blood clots from inside blood vessels to prevent stroke.
Interventional Cardiology News & Resources

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Call  (314) 362-9355  or (800)-392-0936  to schedule your appointment with a specialist.

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