Complex Heart Procedures and Interventional Services

The North Memorial Difference

North Memorial has the expertise and superior technology to provide advanced interventional procedures for accurate diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. These procedures include:

Heart Catheterization
Heart catheterization is the insertion of a hollow tube (catheter) into the chambers and/or arteries of the heart in order to take pictures and diagnose heart problems. To begin, the skin of the hip or wrist is numbed with anesthetic. The catheter, then, is inserted into the artery and advanced to the heart. Pictures of the arteries are taken by injecting X-ray dye.  Pumping function of the heart can also be measured at this time. 

Angioplasty and Coronary Artery Stenting
Angioplasty and coronary stenting are procedures performed to open areas of blockage in the heart arteries. These procedures are done routinely on a non-emergent basis scheduled by your physician. At the time of the heart catheterization, your physician will review the pictures while you are still sedated and determine if a balloon and/or stent is need to fix a blockage.

Cardiac Electrophysiology and Ablation
Cardiac electrophysiology studies are performed to diagnose heart rhythm problems or arrhythmia. An ablation is the procedure performed to correct the heart rhythm problem.  During an ablation, high heat is delivered through a catheter in your vein to the heart tissue. This process is used to eliminate the undesirable heart rhythm.

Device Implants
Permanent pacemakers are inserted to help a heart that is beating too slowly. Internal cardiac defibrillators are inserted to help a heart that is beating ineffectively. Both of these devices are inserted through a small incision near the shoulder.

Atrial Septal Defects and Patent Foramen Ovale
Atrial septal defects (ASDs) and patent foramen ovales (PFOs) are openings between two chambers of the heart that close before or shortly after birth in most people. When these areas do no close, they can cause problems and need to be fixed in a simple surgical procedure. The closure of this opening involves the insertion of a catheter in the vein of the hip area. Through the catheter, a specialized device is advanced to the opening in the heart and release to close the opening.  

This service is available at the following locations:

Heart & Vascular Institute

3300 Oakdale Avenue North
Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Get Directions 763-520-5200