From the Heart: Gary

Gary Fairchild’s life changed while visiting his son at college. The Wallingford, Pa. resident had a completely blocked artery causing chest tightness on exertion, also known as angina. Thanks to interventional cardiologist Muhammad Raza, M.D., who inserted a stent to clear the blockage, Gary's alive to talk about it today.

About Angioplasty and Stenting

Angioplasty uses a balloon on a wire that is passed through a catheter. The catheter usually enters the body through the radial artery in the wrist, and occasionally through the femoral artery in the groin. Once the balloon is placed at the site of the blockage in the heart, the balloon is inflated and presses the plaque against the wall of the artery to improve blood flow.

Once the artery has been reopened, a stent, which is shaped like a tiny tube, is inserted to maintain the passageway. The entire procedure, on average, takes a half hour to an hour. Following the procedure, the patient will sit in an inclined bed, will ambulate, and may be discharged home the same day or the following morning.

About Interventional Cardiology

For certain heart conditions, interventional cardiology presents a lower risk and minimally invasive alternative to surgical procedures. With the help of X-ray guidance, doctors can access the heart by inserting catheters and wires through arteries in the wrist or groin to fix a variety of issues, including blockages in coronary arteries, arteries in the legs, endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms, transcatheter aortic valve replacement and holes in the walls of heart.

While the field of interventional cardiology is not new, the procedures offered within it are constantly evolving. Continued refinements have led to better techniques and equipment and therefore, better results. Healthcare providers continually look for newer technologies and techniques to provide the most up-to-date care for their patients.

Request an Appointment

To request an appointment with a cardiovascular physician or for a non-invasive cardiac test at a Crozer Health facility, please complete the online secure appointment form below or call 1-866-957-8573. A representative will get back to you within the next business day. We regret that we cannot take appointment requests for pediatric patients at this time.

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