Mun K. Hong, MD, Director
Jacqueline Tamis-Holland, MD
Angela Palazzo, MD
Robert Leber, MD
David L. Coven, MD, PhD
Robert Kornberg, MD

Interventional cardiologists belong to a special branch of cardiology that uses minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures to treat cardiovascular disease. These procedures are performed in the cardiac catheterization lab, also called the cath lab.

Interventional cardiologists at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals use thin, flexible catheters or tubes, usually guided to the heart through an artery in the groin, to perform diagnostic tests, evaluate and treat blocked or narrowed coronary and carotid arteries and heart valves, determine the strength of heart muscle, or repair damaged coronary blood vessels and other structures. The interventional cardiologist views the advancement of the catheter on its way to the heart on a video monitor.

Members of our interventional cardiology team—physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and technicians—are present at every step during these procedures to attend to the needs of each patient, with the highest levels of proficiency and compassion.

Interventional cardiology procedures include:

• Angiograms for uncovering heart problems
• Angioplasty and Percutaneous Coronary Stenting for blocked or narrowed arteries
• Balloon Valvuloplasty for narrowed cardiac valves
• Atherectomy to cut away plaque deposits inside blood vessels.
• Coronary thrombectomy to remove blood clots.

In addition to interventional heart procedures, our catheterization laboratory has the expertise to treat peripheral arterial disease, including artery blockages in the legs, kidneys, and neck, without surgery.

Many procedures require an overnight stay in the hospital, but in some cases, you may go home the same day.

For a referral to an expert cardiologist at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals in New York City,
call 1 (877) 996-9334.