Interventional Cardiology Services
Interventional Cardiology & Cardiac Management
Interventional cardiology encompasses both diagnostic procedures and ongoing management strategies that help treat heart conditions and improve cardiac health. At Cardiac Care Specialists of Dublin, we provide comprehensive cardiac care, including advanced diagnostics, medication management, and coordination with interventional specialists when procedures are needed.
Dr. Malhotra performs invasive procedures like angioplasties and stent placement. He does these along with Cardiac Catherizations and Implant Loop Recorders. Pacemaker and Defibrillator efficiency checks are done in the office. Our role is to diagnose conditions accurately, manage medications effectively, and coordinate all aspects of your cardiac care.
Our Approach to Cardiac Care
Our interventional cardiology services focus on three key areas:
- Diagnostic Excellence: Using advanced testing to accurately identify cardiac conditions and their severity. Our nuclear stress testing, echocardiography, and cardiac monitoring capabilities allow precise diagnosis that guides treatment decisions.
- Medical Management: You'll exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike while we monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and EKG. If you're unable to exercise, we can use medication to simulate the effects of exercise on your heart.
- This integrated approach ensures you receive the right treatment at the right time, whether that's medication adjustment, lifestyle modification, or interventional procedures.
Cardiac Medication Management
Proper medication management is often the foundation of successful cardiac treatment. Many heart conditions can be effectively controlled or even reversed with the right combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and monitoring.
Dr. Malhotra specializes in optimizing cardiac medication regimens to:
Control high blood pressure
Manage cholesterol levels
Prevent blood clots
Regulate heart rhythm
Strengthen heart muscle function
Reduce chest pain (angina)
Prevent future heart attacks
Medication management requires careful attention to dosing, drug interactions, side effects, and individual patient response. We monitor your progress closely through follow-up appointments and diagnostic testing, adjusting medications as needed to achieve optimal results.
Our goal is to find the most effective medication regimen with the fewest side effects, improving both your cardiac health and quality of life.
Common Cardiac Medications We Manage
- Blood Pressure Medications: ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics help control hypertension and reduce strain on your heart.
- Cholesterol Medications: Statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, and other lipid-lowering drugs reduce cholesterol levels and stabilize arterial plaques.
- Antiplatelet and Anticoagulants: Aspirin, clopidogrel, and blood thinners like warfarin or newer agents prevent dangerous blood clots.
- Heart Rhythm Medications: Antiarrhythmics help maintain normal heart rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias.
- Heart Failure Medications: A combination of medications including ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, diuretics, and newer agents like SGLT2 inhibitors help strengthen heart function and reduce fluid retention.
- Nitrates: Medications like nitroglycerin relieve chest pain by improving blood flow to the heart muscle.
- We carefully select medications based on your specific condition, other health issues, and potential drug interactions.
Medication Monitoring & Adjustment
Effective medication management requires regular monitoring:
- Periodic blood tests to check kidney function, electrolytes, and medication levels
- Blood pressure monitoring at home and during office visits
- Assessment of medication effectiveness through symptoms and diagnostic testing
- Evaluation for side effects or adverse reactions
- Adjustment of doses based on your response
- Addition or removal of medications as your condition changes
We schedule follow-up appointments at appropriate intervals based on your condition. Stable patients may need visits every 3 to 6 months, while those with changing conditions or new medications require more frequent monitoring.
Between visits, our staff is available to address medication questions or concerns.
Coordination of Interventional Procedures
Some cardiac conditions require interventional procedures beyond medication management. When diagnostic testing reveals significant blockages, severe valve disease, or other structural problems, we coordinate care with interventional cardiologists who specialize in these procedures.
Common interventional procedures include:
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
Pacemaker or defibrillator implantation
Electrophysiology studies and ablation procedures
Dr. Malhotra works closely with interventional specialists at regional medical centers to ensure seamless coordination. We handle pre-procedure evaluation, help you understand what to expect, and provide comprehensive follow-up care after you return home.
This collaborative approach gives you access to specialized procedures while maintaining continuity with your local cardiologist.
Pre-Procedure Evaluation
Before any interventional procedure, thorough evaluation is essential:
- We review your diagnostic tests to confirm the procedure is appropriate
- Assess your overall health and identify any risk factors
- Optimize medications before the procedure
- Provide detailed information about what to expect
- Answer your questions and address concerns
- Coordinate timing with the interventional team
- Arrange necessary pre-procedure testing
Our goal is to ensure you’re medically optimized and fully prepared, both physically and emotionally, for any recommended procedure.
Post-Procedure Care
After you’ve had an interventional procedure, we provide comprehensive follow-up care:
- Monitor your recovery and watch for complications
- Manage new medications prescribed after the procedure
- Adjust existing medications as needed
- Perform follow-up diagnostic testing to assess results
- Coordinate with the interventional team regarding your progress
- Address any new symptoms or concerns promptly
Most patients see Dr. Malhotra within 1 to 2 weeks after a procedure, then at regular intervals based on their condition. We maintain close communication with the interventional cardiologist to ensure coordinated care.
Having local follow-up care makes recovery more convenient and ensures problems are identified quickly.
Preventive Cardiology
While we’re equipped to manage complex cardiac conditions, we place equal emphasis on prevention. Preventing heart disease is always preferable to treating it after it develops.
Our preventive cardiology services include:
Cardiovascular risk assessment
Lipid panel and advanced cholesterol testing
Blood pressure management
Diabetes screening and management
Lifestyle counseling (diet, exercise, smoking cessation)
Weight management guidance
Stress reduction strategies
Family history evaluation
We identify risk factors early and implement strategies to reduce your risk before heart disease develops. For patients with existing cardiac conditions, aggressive risk factor modification can prevent further progression and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Risk Factor Management
We help you address all modifiable cardiac risk factors:
- High Blood Pressure: Target blood pressure control reduces heart attack and stroke risk significantly.
- High Cholesterol:: Lowering LDL cholesterol stabilizes plaques and prevents new blockages.
- Diabetes: Tight glucose control prevents diabetic heart disease.
- Smoking: We provide resources and support for smoking cessation.
- Obesity:Weight loss reduces strain on your heart and improves other risk factors.
- Physical Inactivity: We help develop safe, effective exercise plans.
- Poor Diet: Nutritional counseling supports heart-healthy eating.
- Addressing these factors dramatically reduces your cardiac risk.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordination
For patients recovering from heart attack, bypass surgery, or other major cardiac events, cardiac rehabilitation is crucial. These supervised programs combine exercise training, education, and counseling to help you recover faster and reduce future cardiac risk.
While cardiac rehabilitation programs are typically hospital-based, we coordinate your participation and monitor your progress. We work with rehabilitation staff to adjust medications as you increase activity levels and provide ongoing medical oversight throughout your recovery.
Second Opinions
If you’ve received a cardiac diagnosis elsewhere and want a second opinion, we welcome the opportunity to review your case. Bring your previous test results, and Dr. Malhotra will provide an independent assessment.
Second opinions are particularly valuable when:
- You're considering major procedures
- Diagnoses are unclear
- You want to explore all treatment options
- Previous treatments haven't been effective
Questions About Treatment Options?
Understanding your cardiac condition and treatment options can feel overwhelming. We’re here to answer your questions and explain your options clearly.
Whether you need medication management, diagnostic testing, or coordination of interventional procedures, our team provides expert guidance and compassionate support throughout your cardiac care journey.