Our heart team is trained to diagnose chest pain quickly and begin treatment as soon as possible to help prevent, or even reverse, muscle damage to the heart. Our expertise has earned us Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) Chest Pain v5 Accreditation.
As an accredited facility, expert care begins the moment someone with chest pain enters the emergency room, and continues through diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow up.
Diagnosis and Imaging
- Electrophysiology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Non-invasive Imaging
- Cardiac Catheterization
Interventional Cardiology
- Diagnostic cardiac catheterization: Examines the heart with real-time images (fluoroscopy), and measures blood pressure, blood flow, oxygen levels, and is used to collect biopsies and blood samples.
- Angioplasty: A tiny balloon on the end of a catheter is inflated to push plaque against the wall of the artery to improve blood flow. A laser can also be used to break up the plaque.
- Stent placement: A stent, which is a small mesh tube, is placed in an artery to hold it open and improve blood flow.
- Ablation. A catheter fitted with a tiny electrode eliminates abnormal heart cells that cause arrhythmias.
- Coronary atherectomy. A catheter fitted with a tiny rotating shaver removes hardened plaque to open a blocked artery.
Heart Surgery
When open heart surgery offers the best treatment solution, our cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons are well equipped to perform procedures such as coronary artery bypass surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), congenital heart disease repair, and valve repair and replacement.
-
Aortic aneurysm surgery
-
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
-
Cardiac arrhythmia surgeries, including defibrillator and pacemaker implantation
-
Heart valve repair and replacement
- Minimally invasive vein harvesting
Heart Rhythm Disorders
Known as an arrhythmia, is characterized by abnormal heartbeat — too fast, too slow or uneven. Doctors use tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), electrophysiology studies or a Holter monitor, which records heart activity over a period of time, to diagnose arrhythmias. We provide comprehensive arrhythmia treatment, from lifestyle-modification assistance to highly complex surgical treatment.
Heart Failure Expertise
Also known as congestive, heart failure (CHF) occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Different from a heart attack, heart failure is a chronic, long-term condition that prevents the heart from functioning effectively. Treatment options include medical management, risk-factor management, minimally invasive cardiac catheterization and surgery.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Our program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because we offer the most advanced practices available.
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. And although the most common heart attack symptom for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort, women are more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, and back or jaw pain.
Other heart attack symptoms include:
-
Chest discomfort, which can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. The feeling can either last for more than a few minutes or can go away and come back.
-
Discomfort or pain in other areas of the upper body, such as in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
-
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or vomiting, or lightheadedness.
Our Team
-
Larry Woods, DO
Cardiology -
Ann Connor, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery -
Alejandro Franco, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery -
Eugene Vitvitsky, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery -
Brian P. Priest, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery -
Mazen Mahjoub, MD
Cardiology -
Fadi Naddour, MD
Cardiology -
Mita Raheja, MD
Electrophysiology -
Lawrence Schmetterer, MD
Thoracic Surgery -
Mehrdad Zarrinmakan, MD
Vascular -
Vijay Behari, MD
Cardiology -
David Fredericka, MD
Cardiology
Steward Health Care