Interventional cardiology

Minimally invasive cardiac interventions

Interventional cardiology involves the use of minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions, especially those related to the heart's blood vessels.

American College of Cardiology PCI seal. At St Andrew’s, our interventional cardiologists combine the latest technology with expertise to treat a variety of heart conditions.

Interventional cardiology is where a small tube is inserted through an artery up to the heart in a process known as cardiac catheterisation to fix a heart problem, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery. It can be performed by cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Here are some of the cardiac interventions available at St Andrew’s.

St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital has joined the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) International Centres of Excellence following independent accreditation of the hospital’s cardiac catheterisation program.

Interventional cardiology services at St Andrew's

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Interventional cardiology

Structural heart procedures

Structural heart procedures are used to repair problems with the valves, muscles and walls of the heart, and are a minimally invasive alternative to open heart surgery. Learn more about our Structural Heart Program here.
Coronary angiography

A minimally invasive procedure that uses radio-opaque dye to assess the blood supply to the heart via a thin, flexible catheter inserted through the femoral or radial artery under local anaesthetic.
Right Heart Studies

A minimally invasive procedure that diagnoses certain heart, valve and lung conditions. It involves insertion of a thin, flexible catheter via the femoral vein under local anaesthetic.
Coronary angioplasty

A coronary angioplasty uses a balloon to stretch open a narrowed or blocked artery, improving blood flow. It may be used as an emergency treatment after a heart attack. Often a stent is inserted, which is known as percutaneous coronary intervention.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) +/- Coronary stent insertion
A non-surgical procedure involving the ballooning of plaque in one or more of the coronary arteries and the placement of a coronary artery stent to improve blood flow to the heart muscle. It is done under local anaesthetic, usually via the femoral or radial artery.
PCI can incorporate:
- Coronary stent insertion
- Coronary artery rotoblation and stent insertion
- Coronary angioplasty
- Lithotripsy
- Pericardiocentesis
In February 2025, St Andrew’s was awarded the American College of Cardiology’s Cardiac Catheter Lab Accreditation with PCI, which recognises demonstrated ability to provide the highest standards of care for patients requiring diagnostic catheterisation and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures.
Impella

The Impella device is a temporary mechanical circulatory support system designed to help patients with severe heart failure or those undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The device is inserted through a catheter into the heart and pumps blood from the heart’s left ventricle to the aorta, ensuring adequate circulation while the heart recovers.
Coronary artery rotoblation and stent insertion

A procedure that involves a catheter especially designed to ‘bore out’ a narrowing in a coronary artery that might not otherwise respond to ‘traditional’ percutaneous coronary artery intervention due to marked calcification.
Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) closure

Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) closure is a minimally invasive procedure to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. LAA closure involves inserting a device into the LAA – a small sac-like structure in the left atrium of the heart – to seal it off and prevent any blood clots from escaping.
PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) closure

PFO closure is a procedure used to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a small hole in the heart that did not close naturally after birth. In the procedure, a catheter is used to place a device across the opening in the heart to seal it.
ASD (Atrial Septal Defect) Closure

ASD closure is a procedure to close an atrial septal defect (ASD), a congenital condition where there is an abnormal hole in the wall (septum) between the heart's two upper chambers (the atria). In many cases, ASDs can be closed using a minimally invasive technique through a catheter, with the insertion of a closure device to seal the hole.
Lithotripsy

Lithotripsy is a non-invasive procedure used to treat calcified coronary lesions in patients with coronary artery disease. Calcification of the coronary arteries can make traditional angioplasty and stent placement more difficult, as the hardened plaque does not respond well to balloon inflation. Lithotripsy uses high-energy shock waves to break up and soften the calcified plaque, allowing the artery to become more pliable and enabling effective stent placement.
CTO (Chronic Total Occlusion)

CTO (Chronic Total Occlusion) refers to a complete blockage in a coronary artery that has been present for at least three months. CTO interventions reopen these chronic blockages using a variety of tools such as guidewires, balloons, and stents.

Note: The information here is for general reference only. To understand the benefits and risks specific to your condition and overall situation, please discuss any procedure with your treating doctor.

Your next step

To access interventional cardiology at St Andrew’s you will need a referral from your GP. From there, you can make an appointment with one of our experienced interventional cardiologists.

Choose a cardiologist