Cardiac & Vascular

Heart & Vascular Care

The Aventura Center for Cardiac and Vascular Medicine has become a premier facility for comprehensive cardiovascular care, earning a national reputation for excellence in the process.

When your heart is at stake, it is important to offer more advanced technology, more experienced heart care specialists and a greater range of support services to effectively diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease.

Diagnostics

Using the area's most advanced, noninvasive diagnostic tests, the talented team at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center performs a variety of medical exams to detect the presence of heart disease. The type of tests performed depends upon the referring physician's interpretation of the patient's risk factors, medical history and current symptoms. Your physician will usually perform preliminary tests, such as chest x-ray and blood work, and may progress to more specialized procedures including echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. We also have an electrophysiology laboratory to diagnose patients with heart rhythm problems.

Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Cardiac Catheterization is a medical sub-specialty dedicated to using minimally invasive techniques with imaging guidance. A heart catheterization - or "cath" exam, as it is commonly called - is a special diagnostic x-ray imaging exam that allows your physician to see if any of the coronary arteries have blockages or evaluate patients’ heart valves functionality. We also have a dedicated Post Interventional Unit with trained staff that specializes in the care of pre and post cardiac intervention patients.

The advanced technology in our cardiac catheterization laboratories includes the Philips FD 10 and GE Innova 2100, all-digital cardiovascular imaging system that assists in better viewing and treatment of coronary artery blockages that could cause heart attacks or other serious cardiovascular damage. These revolutionary systems allow cardiologists to view hard-to-see blood vessels with exceptional clarity under even the most difficult conditions.

Images from the Philips FD 10 and GE Innova 2100 are viewed, networked and archived electronically in a totally filmless fashion and with up to 70% less radiation exposure compared to non-digital systems.

D2B (Door-to-Balloon)

D2B: An Alliance for Quality is a new Guidelines Applied in Practice (GAP) program launched by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) to save time and save lives by reducing the door-to-balloon times in U.S. hospitals by opening vessels or blockages. National ACC/AHA guidelines state that hospitals treating acute heart attack patients by bringing the patients to the catheterization laboratory and relieving the block artery should readily achieve a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes or less, and studies have demonstrated strong associations between time to primary Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) and in-hospital mortality risk. Time is truly muscle. Therefore, we have an aggressive Cardiac Alert Program that involves the efforts of highly skilled team of physicians, nurses, and technologists that provide 24 hours 7 days a week emergency cardiac care.

Aventura Hospital and Medical Center is participating in this effort along with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The D2B Alliance was developed to make what is current extraordinary performance ordinary by providing hospitals with key evidence-based strategies and supporting tools needed to begin reducing their D2B times.

Learn how Aventura Hospital's use of Airstrip Technology helps save crucial time.

Electrophysiology Lab

Our electrophysiology lab boasts an array of state-of-the-art technology including the Philips FD-10 Imaging System and the Prucka System to stimulate the heart, and a CARTO System for 3-D Mapping. These are capable of performing a wide range of procedures including:

  • Sinus Node Recovery Times
  • HIS Bundle Recordings
  • A-V Nodal Conduction Recordings
  • Atrial and Ventricular Pacing/Recording
  • Comprehensive Electrophysiology Studies
  • Cardiac 3D Mapping
  • Cardiac Ablations
  • Cardiac Implants:

Echocardiography Lab

Our echocardiography laboratory is equipped with the latest cardiac transthoracic and transesophageal ultrasound systems. The Philips Ie33 is a fully digital system with enhanced tissue harmonic imaging with next generation broadband flow imaging. Cardiologists have a workstation for evaluation and analysis of the images.

Specialized procedures performed in the Echocardiography Lab include the following:

Cardiac Surgical Program (Open Heart Program)

Aventura Hospital and Medical Center has two dedicated state-of-the-art open heart suites backed up by a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) which is staffed by a specialized CVOR team, who provide the highest quality care for the patient and comfort to the patient’s family and friends. In addition, we use the Universal Care Model in CVICU. Patients stay in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit from the moment they had their surgery until they are medically ready to go home.

We provide the following Cardiac Surgery Services:

  • Coronary artery bypass cases (on-pump, off-pump, PAD-CAB)
  • All valvular cases requiring repair or replacement of native tissue valves including minimally invasive
  • Cases involving repair of replacement of the ascending and descending aorta and pulmonary arteries.
  • Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation
  • Right and left heart ventricular assist and support
  • ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and ECCOR (extracorporeal CO2 removal) services

In addition, we also work very closely with our Cardiopulmonary Services Department which maintains patients’ airways and post surgery intubation. They also perform many pulmonary function studies.

Nuclear Medicine Stress Lab

Nuclear Medicine involves the use of minute radioactive particles called isotopes to diagnose a wide variety of disorders. The Nuclear Medicine Department at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center has advanced SPECT cameras that more accurately localize abnormalities. Sophisticated computers are used to analyze and visualize the data.

Cardiac Stress Testing is performed in the Nuclear Medicine Lab to evaluate various cardiac disorders such as; infarction, ischemia, ejection fraction and wall motility. The stress test can be performed on a treadmill or by using pharmaceutical stress agents, e.g. Adenosine and Persantine

Non-Invasive Vascular Ultrasound Laboratory

This Discipline uses ultrasound waves to detect disease in veins and arteries throughout the body, by using pulse wave and color Doppler. Most frequently performed exams are lower and upper extremity venous and arterial, and carotids dropplers. Other specialized exams to name a few are venous mapping, aliens test, thoracic outlet syndrome, shut testing, SMA Doppler and renal artery doppler.

The laboratory is accredited by the American College of Radiology with a dedicated team of sonographers who are nationally registered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Phase I Cardiac Rehabilitation begins in the hospital and will continue at home until you see your physician. Your physician will let you know when you and your heart are ready to tolerate a more aggressive exercise program.

Goals of the Program:

  • To maintain and improve your heart's ability to tolerate activity.
  • To maintain and increase your muscle strength.
  • To prevent joint stiffness.
  • To improve your circulation
  • Teach how to monitor your pulse
  • Teach how to monitor signs and symptoms of fatigue
  • Learn sternal precautions

Interventional Radiology

Patients suffering from various forms of vascular disease now have access to state-of-the-art technology for diagnosis with the Philips FD-20 Interventional Radiology Imaging System; a multi-functional system for both diagnostic and interventional procedures. It provides incredible image quality for vascular and coronary studies. Physicians can achieve a full range of projections, including steep angles and reduces procedure time.

The system is a true multi-functional large field-of-view room that provides outstanding image quality for both vascular and coronary studies. The Philips Allura FD20 features a 2k x 2k imaging chain and 14 bit depth image presentation. What the medical community has been waiting for, however, is the equipment designed to streamline the process, thereby minimizing the risk involved and improving the patient's prognosis.

Specialized procedures performed in Interventional Radiology include the following:

  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
  • Carotid Artery Stenting
  • Endovascular Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA)
  • Renal, Angiography and Stenting
  • Laser
  • CT Guided Biopsies and drainages
  • Tunneled Dialysis and Ports Insertions

Other departments working in conjunction with the Cardiac Catheterization Center include the Wound Healing Center, Surgical Services and Rehabilitation. For a physician referral 24 hours, 7 days a week, please call toll free 1-888-256-7692

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