Interventional Cardiology
From lightning-fast heart attack treatment, to minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures, expert care is always right around the corner.
Beaufort Memorial’s state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab is open 24/7 for patients through the Lowcountry. Our board-certified interventional cardiologists use the latest techniques to assess any problems with the heart or circulatory system. If needed, they can perform both emergency and elective procedures right on-site. That means faster care without traveling to Charleston or Savannah, so you can focus on healing.
For more information, and to schedule a consultation, call 843-522-7700 or find a heart care specialist anytime online.
Dedicated Care for the Most Serious Heart Attack
In 2013, Beaufort Memorial earned state certification to perform emergency interventions for the most serious type of heart attack, called ST elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI. Since then, we’ve averaged more than 70 life-saving procedures every year.
STEMIs occur when there is a sudden blockage of one of the three coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. Without blood, the heart muscle will die.
Beaufort’s interventional cardiologists work closely with local EMTs to diagnose STEMI in the ambulance on the way to the hospital through an electrocardiogram (EKG). If treatment like angioplasty or stenting is needed, we can prepare immediately in our on-site cardiac cath lab.
It’s that rapid-response care that helped Beaufort earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Chest Pain Center Certification, among other distinctions. In fact, our average door-to-balloon times—the time between the patient’s arrival at our Emergency Department and opening the blocked artery—is well below the 90-minute national standard. Time saved is more lives saved.
Elective PCI to Restore Heart Health
In addition to our emergency cardiac care, Beaufort Memorial is one of just a select few providers certified by the state to perform elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a non-surgical procedure to open blocked arteries in the heart.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) granted a Certificate of Need after determining we meet all criteria to offer this vital intervention.
During PCI, a catheter is inserted into the blood vessel to clear the clot and restore blood flow to the heart. A stent may be used to stabilize the artery and prevent it from closing again. Elective PCI can be used to:
- Prevent heart attacks
- Relieve or reduce angina
- Alleviate congestive heart failure
- Help you potentially avoid surgical treatments like coronary artery bypass
Ongoing Care and Support
Following a procedure in our cardiac cath lab, we’ll closely monitor your progress and connect you directly to our cardiac rehabilitation program, if needed. We offer personalized education and medically supervised exercise and nutrition to help you get back to the life you love.
A $60 screening could save your life.
Three simple tests could prevent a stroke, or other vascular emergency.
Stop heart disease before it stops you.
A non-invasive CT scan can show your risk for heart attack or heart disease in the next three-to-five years.