Heart Care (Cardiovascular)

Patients needing medical treatment for heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmia) can depend on the experts at the Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Cardiac Cath Lab to provide the care you need. Special technologies that measure the heart’s activity can help doctors diagnose arrhythmia and evaluate the overall condition of your heart. These include:

• Cardiac event monitor
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
• Holter monitor
• Stress test

Treatments for arrhythmia are based on the type and severity of the condition. We offer a range of options, including:

• Lifestyle modification and medical management – Caffeine, alcohol and stress are known factors in causing arrhythmias. Our specialists can provide education and resources to help you make changes in your lifestyle that can eliminate heart rhythm disorders. If needed, medication therapies can be used in combination with lifestyle changes.
• Cardioversion – This technique uses an ECG monitor and a defibrillator to treat fast arrhythmias.
• Catheter ablation – A narrow tube, or catheter, is inserted into a vein that leads to your heart. Using imaging technology, the catheter is guided to the tissue causing your irregular heartbeats and releases either cold or high-heat energy to eliminate the abnormal cells.
• Implantable devices –Placed just under the skin, these devices help regulate heartbeat by sending electrical signals to the heart when needed. A pacemaker is used to regulate a slow heartbeat and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) regulates a fast heartbeat.
• Surgical ablation – If other treatment options are unsuccessful in managing arrhythmia, surgery may be the best option.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Our cardiovascular team is expertly trained and experienced in diagnosing, treating and aiding in the prevention of all forms of heart and vascular disease, so you can be assured your health is in good hands.

Cardiovascular Diagnosis

When you come to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg for a cardiovascular checkup or consultation, your doctor may decide to order some tests to most effectively evaluate and diagnose your heart health. These tests can show your doctor how your heart looks and functions, including:

• The presence of cardiovascular disease or other serious chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or coronary heart disease
• If the heart is pumping blood effectively
• Irregularities in heartbeat
• Visible signs of any heart damage or defects

The sooner your symptoms are evaluated, the sooner we can diagnose your condition and begin appropriate treatment. When heart issues are diagnosed in the early stages, you have a better chance of managing them with your doctor’s help and enjoying an enhanced quality of life.

Testing for Heart Disease

At the Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Cardiac Cath Lab, we utilize a wide range of diagnostic equipment and tests to accurately identify your condition in a timely manner. These include:

• Blood test – This simple lab test can show the cardiologist signs of heart disease.
• Cardiac catheterization – Also known as a coronary angiogram, this test uses X-ray images (fluoroscopy) to show the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. It also measures blood pressure and assesses the health of the arteries and valves. This procedure also may be used to collect blood samples and biopsies.
• Electrophysiology studies – This group of tests includes electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) and transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) and results are often available the same day. With an EKG/ECG, sensors attached to your chest measure electrical activity of the heart. Muscle damage to the heart also can be detected.
• Noninvasive imaging technologies – Using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), X-ray or echocardiogram technologies, these tests provide images of the heart muscle, valves, arteries and veins.
• Nuclear medicine scans – This type of testing may involve a positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scan, or thallium or myocardial perfusion scan, which inject a small dose of radioactive material to show blood flow and overall heart structure.
• Stress test – This common test measures how the heart and blood vessels respond to a calculated increase in physical activity.

Specialists at the Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Cardiac Cath Lab utilize advanced diagnostic technology to evaluate the condition of your heart in order to identify, treat and help prevent heart failure. Our care includes:

• Medical management – Our cardiologists will develop a program tailored specifically for you that combines medication therapies and lifestyle modifications so you can effectively manage your heart failure. Medications are used to prevent clotting, slow heart rate, adjust hormone levels, lower blood pressure and eliminate excess water.
• Risk-factor management – We will guide you in making changes in your lifestyle, including nutrition, exercise and stress management, to prevent further damage to your heart and help you lead a healthier life.
• Minimally invasive cardiac catheterization techniques – Procedures such as stent placement and angioplasty to open up blocked or narrowed arteries can be done on an outpatient basis.
• Surgery ­– If surgery is the best option to manage your heart failure, we use minimally invasive procedures whenever possible. Cardiac surgeons at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg may use implantable devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, to treat your heart failure symptoms.

At the Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Cardiac Cath Lab, our experts utilize advanced technologies and nonsurgical treatment options to provide heart care whenever appropriate.

When interventional methods are needed, we often can perform minimally invasive procedures that use small incisions instead of open-heart surgery, which requires larger incisions. Minimally invasive procedures are performed using a catheter (thin, flexible tube), which is inserted into a vein or artery. It is then guided to the heart with the assistance of advanced camera and imaging technologies to open blocked arteries and improve blood flow. Because of their smaller incisions and advanced instrumentation, minimally invasive procedures mean less postoperative pain and a quicker recovery for patients.

Catheter-Assisted Procedures

Our board-certified specialists use a variety of minimally invasive catheter-assisted techniques to treat heart disease, including:

• Ablation – Used to correct heart arrhythmias, a long, flexible catheter is inserted into a vein or artery through the groin and guided to your heart where it releases energy to modify the tissues causing the irregular heart rhythm.
• Angioplasty – This procedure is used to open blocked or narrowed arteries in the heart, helping to relieve symptoms such as chest pain and difficulty breathing. With this procedure, the catheter carries a tiny balloon that is placed to widen the narrowed artery. After the catheter is inserted, a laser may be used to break up plaque.
• Coronary atherectomy – With this treatment, a catheter is fitted with a tiny rotating blade and inserted into a blocked artery to remove hardened plaque.
• Diagnostic cardiac catheterization – This diagnostic procedure enables a cardiologist to view heart images that measure blood flow, blood pressure and oxygen levels. Cardiac catheterization also can be used to collect blood samples and biopsies.
• Stent placement – In this procedure, a small mesh tube known as a stent is inserted into an artery to hold it open and improve blood flow.

Vascular medicine focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions involving the circulatory system and diseases that affect blood flow, arteries and veins. Vascular disease can contribute to coronary artery disease, which can, in turn, cause heart attack and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States.

Vascular Conditions Treated

The vascular specialists at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg offer a broad spectrum of services for preventing, diagnosing, treating and managing many vascular disorders, including:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Aneurysm
• Atherosclerosis
• Buerger’s disease
• Carotid artery stenosis
• Claudication
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Pulmonary embolism
• Renal artery stenosis
• Varicose veins

Vascular Care and Treatment

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg's team of vascular experts use nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments whenever possible. Care may include:

• Diagnostic technology – To diagnose conditions affecting your vascular system and determine the extent of vascular disease, our vascular specialists use several types of imaging technology, including computed tomography angiography (CTA), minimally invasive coronary angiogram and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).
• Risk-factor management – Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, poor nutrition and lack of exercise are known risk factors, and can cause conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes — all of which can lead to vascular disease. Our vascular specialists offer preventive screenings and education together with a personalized program to manage risk factors and achieve a healthier lifestyle.
• Surgical interventions – Minimally invasive procedures, such as catheter-assisted techniques (angioplasty, stent placement and atherectomy), can be used in treating vascular disease by removing buildup of plaque and opening blocked or narrowed arteries.

Find a Specialist Near You

For help finding a heart or vascular specialist, or to learn more about our comprehensive cardiovascular care, call Bayfront Health St. Petersburg at (727) 895-DOCS (3627).