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Coronary Interventional Procedures (Angioplasty/ Stent)
Coronary Interventional Procedures (Angioplasty/ Stent)
Coronary interventional procedures include angioplasty (PTCA), stent, and atherectomy.
Angioplasty (PTCA) is a medical procedure in which a balloon is used to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries (blood vessels of the heart).
A stent is a flexible coil of mesh that is inserted into a patient's coronary artery to keep that artery open so that blood can pass through it easily. A stent is placed as part of a balloon angioplasty procedure.
Atherectomy is a procedure for treating coronary blood vessels that are narrowed or completely blocked. The procedure is used to increase or restore blood flow through the artery. During the procedure, a blade is introduced into the narrowed area to shave plaque (a thickened area within a blood vessel) away from the vessel wall.
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Lower Cost |
Short Stay |
Cardiac |
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Heart Bypass Surgery
Heart Bypass Surgery
Heart bypass surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting is a surgical procedure in which a section of a coronary artery, which has been partially or completely blocked, is bypassed by transplanting a healthy section of blood vessel around the diseased area. The conduit to route blood around the obstructed area may be an artery or a vein. There is some information that arteries may have a better long-term patency rate (chance of staying open for years) than veins. The arteries and veins used for the bypass procedure are taken from the patient's own body; they may be harvested from within the chest, the arms or the legs.
A coronary artery bypass is performed by a cardiac surgeon who makes an incision in the patient's chest to expose the patient's heart. Incisions may also be made in the legs or the arms to obtain a vein or artery for the bypass. The patient is connected to a heart-lung machine that takes over the function of the heart and lungs while the surgeon works on the heart. An opening is made in the diseased artery or arteries above and below the blockage. A section of artery or vein is then sewn to the points above and below the blockage in the affected artery, effectively providing a detour around the obstruction. At the conclusion of the bypass procedure, the heart-lung machine is disconnected, allowing blood to flow back through the heart, and the incision is closed.
Most bypass operations are performed by dividing the breastbone to provide access to the heart. Some bypass operations are now performed through "limited" incisions made either between the ribs or partially through the breastbone, with or without the use of the heart-lung machine.
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Lower Cost |
Short Stay |
Cardiac |
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Heart Failure
Heart Failure
Heart failure refers to a condition in which the heart does not pump efficiently, and consequently, it is unable to circulate enough blood to meet the needs of the body. Inefficient pumping also causes the blood returning to the heart to back up in the veins, which can cause an accumulation of fluid in the tissues and lungs. Because many of these symptoms of heart failure are caused by the congestion of the tissues and lungs with fluid, it is frequently called congestive heart failure.
The most common causes of heart failure in the U.S. are:
Coronary artery disease – The narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup.
Cardiomyopathy – A disease of the heart muscle that causes the heart to lose its pumping efficiency.
High blood pressure
Disease of the heart valves
The most frequently reported symptoms of heart failure are: fatigue with exertion, shortness of breath especially when lying down, and general fatigue. Heart failure can be treated in a variety of ways, depending upon the cause of the failure, including coronary bypass surgery, valve replacement surgery, or heart transplantation.
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Higher Cost |
Short Stay |
Cardiac |
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a group of diseases that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthmatic bronchitis. The common characteristic of these diseases is obstruction to airflow out of the lungs, and the common symptom is shortness of breath. In the U.S., an estimated 90 percent of COPD is due to smoking. Treatment includes absolute avoidance of smoking, and bronchodilators and oxygen for those with advanced disease.
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Average Cost |
Short Stay |
Pulmonary |
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Carotid Surgery
Carotid Surgery
Carotid surgery is a surgical procedure to remove the lining and fatty obstruction of a carotid artery that has been narrowed by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of arteries usually due to the buildup of fatty tissue. The largest and most common clinical problems associated with atherosclerosis of a carotid artery are stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
A carotid surgery restores normal blood flow to the brain, reducing stroke or TIA risk. Before surgery, the site of narrowing is located by means of an x-ray procedure called angiography.
Carotid surgery is a delicate procedure that may take several hours to perform. The procedure is performed in a hospital setting with general anesthesia. The artery is exposed, clamps are applied, an incision is made, and the diseased lining is removed along with the atherosclerotic material and any thrombus (blood clot) that has formed. The incision is closed with stitches. Most patients are able to leave the hospital within a day or two.
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Lower Cost |
Short Stay |
Other Procedures |
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Peripheral Vascular Bypass
Peripheral Vascular Bypass
Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) refers to circulatory disease outside of the heart. Patients with coronary artery disease often have underlying PVD. Peripheral vascular bypass grafting is a surgical procedure in which a section of an artery that has been partially or completely blocked is bypassed by transplanting a healthy section of blood vessel around the diseased area.
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Lower Cost |
Short Stay |
Other Procedures |
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Resection/Replacement of Abdominal Aorta
Resection/Replacement of Abdominal Aorta
This surgical procedure is performed to remove an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). An aneurysm is the ballooning of an artery due to the pressure of blood flowing through a weakened area. The abdominal aorta carries blood to the kidneys and the abdominal and pelvic organs.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is most commonly caused by atherosclerosis (the narrowing of arteries due to the buildup of fatty tissue). An abdominal aortic aneurysm can rupture, causing significant and sometimes fatal blood loss. Angiography (an X-ray procedure) or ultrasound is used to diagnose AAA.
Resection/replacement of an abdominal aorta may be performed on an elective or emergency basis.
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Lower Cost |
Short Stay |
Other Procedures |
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