Coronary artery disease occurs when deposits of cholesterol and other materials block the arteries that carry blood to the heart. When blood is cut off from the heart, a person will experience chest pain or a heart attack.
New York Methodist offers a wide range of procedures and treatments for coronary artery disease. In fact, we have three labs in which we work to do these non-surgical (or "interventional") procedures that restore blood flow to the heart.
Interventional cardiology is dedicated to the research and technology behind minimally- invasive heart procedures. “Minimally-invasive” means causing the least of damage possible to the body while treating a particular condition.
At NYM, interventional procedures are performed by experienced cardiologists and radiologists. The procedures include:
Thrombectomy The doctor removes an obstructive clot which is inhibiting the flow of blood through a vessel to the heart.
Angioplasty This technique involves the use of small balloon devices to open a blocked artery and allow increased blood flow to the heart. Learn more.
Stenting A small, metal stent can be placed in a blocked blood vessel to hold it open and allow the blood to flow more freely. In a relatively small number of cases, the artery may become clogged again (restenosis) and it must be treated again with a procedure such as angioplasty or bypass surgery. Drug eluting stents, which are appropriate for some patients, release a drug that prevents the build-up of new tissue that can re-clog the artery, thereby minimizing the need for repeat procedures. Learn more.
