The physicians at California Cardiac Institute perform the following procedures to diagnose and treat heart and vascular disease:

Coronary Angiography / Cardiac Catheterization
During an angiogram a cardiologist inserts a catheter into a person’s groin or arm and guides the catheter into the heart. Then, with x-ray contrast fluid, the cardiologist can view inside the arteries and determine if there are any blockages. At the same time, the cardiologist is also able to measure pressures inside the chambers of the heart.

Balloon Angioplasty
This procedure is done by inserting a catheter with a small balloon at its tip into the coronary artery. When the catheter reaches the blockage, the balloon is inflated which widens the artery by flattening the plaque against the artery wall. Then, the balloon is deflated and removed. Angioplasty is also useful in treating blockages in the arteries of the legs and neck.

Atherectomy
During this procedure, a catheter with either a small drill or cutting device at its tip is inserted into the coronary artery. The high speed drill grinds away the plaque which then washes out in the bloodstream. The cutting device shaves off bits of plaque which are stored in a collection chamber and removed when the catheter is taken out. Angioplasty may be performed after enough plaque has been removed.

Stents
A stent is a small metal coil or mesh tube that is placed inside the artery after the artery has been widened by angioplasty. The stent permanently holds the passageway open. In some cases, narrowing inside the stent may occur, in which case the patient may undergo repeat angioplasty and stent placement.

Laser Angioplasty
During laser angioplasty, a catheter with a fiber-optic tip, or probe, is inserted into the coronary artery. The heat generated by the probe burns away the plaque. This procedure may be used when the plaque is so hardened that it cannot be treated with angioplasty or atherectomy.

Plaque Excision
A new procedure to treat blockages in the legs, known as Plaque Excision, is showing great promise in that it actually removes the plaque altogether. A tiny rotating blade shaves away the plaque from inside the artery. The plaque collects in the tip of the device and then is removed from the patient. Dr. Don Lee has performed several plaque excision procedures with tremendously successful outcomes, greatly improving the patient’s quality of life.