Peter Munk Cardiac Centre

What is interventional cardiology?
Interventional cardiology is an important part of treatment for patients with disease of the heart, blood vessels or coronary artery disease. These treatments involve “intervening” to open blocked or clogged arteries to improve blood flow to and from the heart.

UHN’s Interventional Cardiology care area is on the leading edge of interventional techniques for patients with heart disease. We provide more than 1,500 coronary interventions and 300-350 congenital interventions every year.

Most coronary intervention procedures are performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab). Click on the image below to explore the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre’s Cath Lab.

Examples of interventional treatments include:
Angioplasty – opening blocked arteries using a tube and a small balloon
Stents – using small wire mesh tubes to support the artery wall and keep arteries open
Atherectomy – drilling a hole through blockages that are very hard Clot extraction – removing clots to prevent blockages
Brachytherapy – using radiation inside a stent tube to prevent cell growth from blocking the artery

Through exceptional patient care and through educating cardiologists from around the world, our goal is to advance care in three key areas:

1. Improving patient outcomes after heart attacks
   
2. Improving therapies for patients with re-narrowing of the arteries
   
3. Studying outcomes of treatments and strategies in patients not studied in other clinical trials

Through research and treatment, interventional cardiology has played a vital role in improving the health and quality of life of many patients, helping relieve symptoms and allowing patients to become more active.