Cardiology Services
Interventional Cardiology
The Orange County Heart Institute has cardiologists who specialize in interventional procedures.
Dr. Alimadadian, Dr. Marin, Dr. Santora, Dr. Wesley, Dr. Kolski and Dr. Cobb each have at least 15 to 20 years experience in interventional procedures.
These procedures include:
• stents, including the newest drug coated stents (also call drug eluting stents)
• balloon angioplasty (PTCA)
• laser athrectomy
• rotational athrectomy and coronary stenting, including the newest coated stents.
Coronary stents have become the mainstay for treating angina and heart attacks and in many cases has replaced coronary bypass surgery. Presently, stents far surpass the use of all other interventional procedures including PTCA or lasers, simply because stents are safer and provide better long term results. The decision to place stents, coated or non-coated stents, is a complex process. Many factors are taken into consideration by the cardiologist including the length of the blockage, the tortuosity of the vessel, the diameter of the vessel, and whether the blockage is at a branch point where the arteries divide. Other considerations are the patients ability to tolerate blood thinners, and the severity of other associated medical condition such as diabetes, kidney function etc.
All in all, the cardiologists at the Orange County Heart institute have over 100 years of combined experience in interventional cardiology. This experience helps them make these complex decisions in a way that leads to superb outcomes for their patients.
Coronary Stent
A stent is a wire mesh tube used to prop open an artery that's recently been cleared using angioplasty.
The stent is collapsed to a small diameter and put over a balloon catheter. It's then moved into the area of the blockage. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands, locks in place and forms a scaffold. This holds the artery open. The stent stays in the artery permanently, holds it open, improves blood flow to the heart muscle and relieves symptoms (usually chest pain). For appointments, call 714 564-3300.
High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Dr. Kolski is a nationally recognized leader in taking care of patients with higher risk coronary artery disease and heart failure. He is a primary investigator on multiple national studies, and performs more of these procedures than any doctor in Orange County. Excellent results are achieved with a “heart team