Cardiology

A common reason people visit the emergency room is chest pain. This potentially life-threatening symptom may be indicative of a mild condition, such as heartburn, or it may be a sign of a heart attack. If you think you might be experiencing a cardiovascular emergency, visit the nearest emergency room or call 911.

Chest pain associated with reduced blood flow to the heart is referred to as angina. This kind of pain is sometimes referred to as a squeezing sensation or a heaviness on the chest.

The three types of angina are stable, unstable and variant. Stable angina has a predictable pattern and intensity. Unstable angina is unpredictable and features more intense chest pain. Variant angina is a severe, temporary spasm that you may feel suddenly while you are resting. Angina can occur without a heart attack but may be a warning sign of cardiovascular issues that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

It can be difficult to know when chest pain is related to a heart attack, which makes it important for you to recognize the symptoms. Men and women may experience different symptoms. Pain may sometimes appear in areas other than the chest because there is not enough blood flow to those areas. At times, the discomfort may be so small people may assume they have a stomach virus.

Women experiencing a heart attack are more likely to have different symptoms than men, including:

• Anxiety or a sense of impending doom
• Back pain
• Discomfort, pain or numbness in one or both arms
• Indigestion
• Jaw pain
• Nausea or dizziness
• Neck pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Uncomfortable pressure on the chest
• Unexplained fatigue
• Vomiting

Men experiencing a heart attack may have symptoms that include:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Coughing or wheezing
• Dizziness
• Heart palpitations (the feeling your heart has skipped a beat)
• Racing heart
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating

Seconds count when you need emergency care. Chest pain, heart failure, heart attacks and stroke all require quick treatment for the best chances of survival and outcomes. To ensure you get that care as fast as possible, many TriStar Health facilities maintain accreditations in efficiency and quality, including:

• Accredited Chest Pain Centers with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), designated by the American College of Cardiology (ACC)
• Primary Stroke Centers, designated by The Joint Commission
• Blue Distinction, designated by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Our cardiac surgery program at TriStar Centennial is recognized by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons by receiving three out of three stars in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). TriStar Centennial has been ranked among the top 50 cardiac hospitals by Fortune/PINC.

Our cardiology experts

We have a network of over 100 cardiac experts in over 30 locations who offer care ranging from treatment of cardiovascular disease to thoracic surgery. Our cardiac surgeons perform the most complex surgeries with success rates above the national average. Cardiovascular specialists use the latest surgical techniques, equipment and devices including mitral valve repair, off-pump bypass, robotic-assisted and percutaneous procedures. Our surgeons continue to explore the latest in minimally invasive surgical procedures, ensuring patients have access to the best possible treatment options for their cardiac disease. Our network of care includes cardiac rehabilitation to continue healing after a heart procedure.

TriStar Health hospitals are connected through a healthcare network committed to providing exceptional cardiovascular care for every patient. Our network of care allows our cardiology teams to collaborate and communicate efficiently. This means seamless care and access to heart specialists across the region for our patients.

Screening for heart conditions is an important step in living a long and healthy life. As such, we use state-of-the-art technology to ensure you receive the most accurate diagnosis and best possible treatment options.

Some of our heart imaging tests and procedures include:

• Angiography
• Ankle-brachial index test
• Ambulatory cardiac monitoring
• Cardiac calcium scoring
• Cardiac computerized tomography (CT)
• Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Cardiac stress test
• Cardiac catheterization
• Electrocardiogram
• Echocardiography
• Holter monitoring
• Doppler ultrasound
• Multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan
• Nuclear stress test
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Tilt table test
• Transesophageal echocardiography
• Vascular ultrasound studies

Cardiac calcium scoring

For patients who may be unaware of the quality of their heart health, a cardiac calcium scoring test may be useful in determining the potential risk of a heart attack or other heart conditions. A cardiac calcium scoring test is a non-invasive computed tomography (CT) scan that determines the amount of calcified plaque found in the arteries, which assists heart doctors in evaluating risk.

Although anyone concerned about their risk for heart disease can discuss options for assessing risk, good candidates for cardiac calcium scoring include:

• Men 45 years old and older
• Women 55 years old and older
• Patients overweight by 10 pounds or more
• Patients who smoke
• Patients with a family history of heart disease or stroke
• Patients with high cholesterol or blood pressure
• Patients with diabetes
• Patients with a sedentary lifestyle

Cardiac catheterization lab

Cardiac catheterization refers to a diagnostic procedure that detects cardiac issues via the insertion of a catheter — a thin, long tube — into an artery or vein. We perform many procedures in our cardiac catheterization laboratory, such as stent placements, heart catheterizations and angioplasties.

Our multi-disciplinary care teams offer a variety of cardiovascular services and diagnostic procedures, including:

• Angioplasty
• Aortic and high-risk valve clinics
• Atherectomy
• Atrial fibrillation (AFib) ablation
• Beating heart surgery (off-pump bypass)
• Bentall procedure
• Cardiac ablation
• Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG)
• Endovascular aneurysm repair - stent grafting (EVAR)
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
• Implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD)
• Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure
• Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
• Left ventricular reconstructive surgery
• Maze and mini maze procedures
• Minimally invasive bypass surgery
• Mitral valve repair
• Pacemaker
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
• Pulmonary artery pressure monitoring system
• Ross procedure
• Sternal reconstruction
• Thrombectomy
• Valvuloplasty
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR)

When heart or vascular surgical intervention is necessary, our skilled surgeons are experienced in all facets of cardiovascular surgery and will work closely with your cardiologist from diagnosis through recovery.