Cardiac Catheterization & Interventional Cardiology

At VHC Health in Arlington and the DC Metro, heart specialists use cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology to diagnose and treat heart disease. These minimally invasive procedures help doctors check blood flow, find blocked arteries, and improve heart function without open surgery. Our team uses advanced imaging and small tools to guide treatment and provide safe, effective heart care.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Heart Procedures

Many heart conditions can now be treated with catheter-based procedures. These treatments use small incisions instead of large surgical cuts.
Compared with traditional surgery, these procedures often provide several benefits:

• Shorter recovery time and hospital stay
• Lower risk of infection and other complications
• Smaller incisions and less pain
• Little to no scarring
• Faster return to normal activities

What’s Cardiac Catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization is a test that helps doctors see how well your heart and blood vessels work. It helps them diagnose heart disease quickly and clearly. During the procedure, a doctor places a thin tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in the wrist or groin. The catheter moves through the blood vessels to the heart.

Doctors use this test to:
• Look for signs of heart disease
• Measure blood flow and pressure in the heart
• Find blocked or narrowed arteries
• Decide if you need other treatments, such as surgery

Do I Need Heart Catheterization?

Your doctor may recommend cardiac catheterization if symptoms or test results suggest heart disease.

Common reasons for this procedure include:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Abnormal stress test results
• Shortness of breath
• Suspected coronary artery disease
• Elevation before heart surgery

This test helps doctors learn what may be causing your symptoms and choose the right treatment. Your doctor will help choose the treatment that best fits your heart condition.

Conditions Diagnosed with Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization helps doctors find heart problems early. Early diagnosis helps your care team plan the best treatment and lower the risk of serious complications. Finding these conditions early can help protect your long-term heart health.

Doctors may use this test to diagnose:

• Coronary artery disease
• Blocked or narrowed arteries
• Heart valve problems
• Congenital heart conditions
• Heart rhythm issues

Advanced Technology for Safer Heart Care

VHC Health offers advanced cardiac imaging in The Louise Sands Olmstead Cardiac Catheterization Lab. Our team uses the Philips Allura Xper FD10 cardiovascular X-ray system and Philips Flat Detector technology to capture clear images of the heart and coronary arteries. These detailed images help doctors see how blood moves through the heart and find problems more easily.

Advanced imaging helps doctors:

• Check the blood flow in the heart
• Find narrowed or blocked arteries
• Detect heart disease earlier
• Plan the best treatment
• Reduce procedure time
• Improve overall results

What’s Interventional Cardiology?

Interventional cardiology uses minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures to diagnose and treat heart disease. These procedures use small tools and tiny incisions instead of open surgery. In many cases, doctors can diagnose and treat a heart problem during the same procedure.

Interventional Procedures We Offer

Your doctor may recommend one of the following treatments based on your heart condition.

• Balloon angioplasty with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) – Uses a catheter to guide and inflate a small balloon to widen a narrowed or blocked blood vessel and restore blood flow
• Cryoablation – Uses extreme cold to target cells in the heart that cause an irregular heartbeat
• Impella® placement – Inserts a tiny device in the body to help the heart pump blood to manage heart failure
• MitraClip device placement – Treats mitral valve regurgitation. Doctors attach a small clip to the mitral valve to help it close more tightly and improve blood
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) – Replaces the aortic valve to treat stenosis
• Stenting – Places a device called a stent in the artery to keep it open and allow blood to flow to the heart

Late Cancellation & No-Show

We need 48 hours’ notice for appointment changes or cancellations. If you do not provide at least 48 business hours’ notice or miss your appointment, a $250 fee may apply.