Cardiology

Heart arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms, occur when your heart's electrical system does not function properly. Irregular heartbeats can cause a variety of conditions, including shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness and even a stroke or heart attack. They can also be a sign of underlying heart disease.

Our cardiology team uses advanced diagnostic services, medications, techniques and procedures to treat heart arrhythmias, including AFib.

AFib never fully disappears but can be suppressed for five to 10 years if treated early enough, such as during the paroxysmal stage.

The symptoms of arterial blockage, or heart disease, differ based on the location of the blockage within the body. Knowing these symptoms can help lead to early detection and treatment, which can prevent a heart attack, stroke or heart failure.

Symptoms of blood supply blockage can include:

• Chest pain (angina) or tightness in the chest
• Mini stroke
• Numbness, cold feeling or pain in the arms or legs
• Pain in the back, upper abdomen, throat, jaw or neck
• Sudden loss of vision

To assess your heart health and identify any cardiovascular conditions, we rely on the accurate, fast results from our diagnostic cardiovascular imaging and screening tests. Some of these include:

• Computerized tomography (CT) scan: noninvasive heart scan using X-rays to take pictures of the beating heart from any angle, showing problems in your heart's structure or blood-pumping ability, as well as calcium buildup or other blockages
• Coronary angiogram: special X-ray test in which images are taken as contrast dye fluid is used in the coronary arteries to show how blood flows through the heart, highlighting any blockages
• Nuclear stress test or myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI): noninvasive test showing how well the blood flows through the heart muscle and how effective the heart muscle is pumping, usually using single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET)
• Stress echocardiography: noninvasive test during which ultrasound images of the heart are taken during exercise to evaluate the amount of blood and oxygen your heart muscle receives during physical activity
• Stress tests: monitoring of the heart's activity during exercise using electrodes or chemicals

A heart catheterization is the gold standard in diagnosing blockages in arteries and passageways supplying blood to or from the heart. It involves the use of a catheter (thin, flexible tube) to let our heart doctors see inside certain areas of your heart.

In some cases, a heart catheterization is performed only after medications fail to improve symptoms of a blockage in blood supply to the heart. Once the results of a heart catheterization are returned to your cardiologist, they will determine if a stent is necessary to eliminate current blockages of blood flow to or from your heart.

We provide a full spectrum of arrhythmia treatments based on your specific arrhythmic condition. These treatments include:

• Ablation
  • Catheter ablation
  • Cryoablation
• Automated external defibrillator
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
• Electrical cardioversion
• Implantable loop recorder
• Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) device insertion (to reduce the risk of stroke for people who have AFib and help eliminate the need for long-term blood thinner usage)
• Medication therapy and management
  • Beta blockers
  • Blood thinners
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Digoxin
• Pacemaker device insertion (a device used to treat arrhythmias, such as AFib)

We specialize in interventional cardiology, which focuses on blood flow through arteries in the heart and throughout the body.

In interventional cardiology, nonsurgical procedures using catheters are performed to repair narrowed arteries and weakened or damaged blood vessels. These minimally invasive procedures give you the benefits of shorter recovery times and little to no pain and scarring.

The interventional cardiologists at our hospital specialize in the treatment of many conditions relating to the cardiovascular system, including:

• Carotid and other arterial blockages
• Cerebrovascular accidents (strokes)
• Heart attacks
• Renal artery stenosis
• Vein abnormalities and disorders

Many of the procedural treatments of heart-related conditions involve the insertion of a stent to allow improved blood flow through arteries. A stent is a small tube made of a metal mesh material. It is usually inserted to open a narrowed artery or other passageway within the body for easier blood flow.

During these procedures, the cardiac specialist will first insert a catheter into the blocked artery. Next, they will perform a balloon angioplasty to expand the artery. Lastly, they will place the stent into the now-open artery. This way, it will remain open, pushing out plaque and allowing improved blood flow.

We are proud to offer transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery as an alternative to open-heart surgery. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that repairs a damaged aortic valve that is too narrow and restricts blood flow, which can lead to heart failure.

Similarly, transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) is a cutting-edge alternative to open-heart valve surgery. It is often recommended to treat mitral regurgitation for people who are considered to be too high risk for conventional valve repair or replacement surgery. As a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure, TMVR is also often used to treat people who have previously undergone mitral valve replacement surgery.

Following a cardiac or cardiopulmonary event or procedure, it may be beneficial to participate in our cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. In fact, after discharge, many of our patients return to join our rehabilitation program and facilitate a complete and fast recovery.

We have the only cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program in Citrus County. Our trained specialists provide the cardiac and/or respiratory rehabilitative therapies you need to get back to your active life. Specifically, with us you will need fewer and shorter future inpatient visits.