DR. ALEJANDRO VALADEZ-JASSO
h.e.c.m.n.o. i.m.s.s.
Clinical & Interventionist Cardiologist
What is a Cardiologist?
The kind of doctor who knows all about the heart and how it works. Cardiologists treat all kinds of heart problems, from heart murmurs to hearts that miss a beat.
A cardiologist is a physician who is certified to treat problems of the cardiovascular system: this includes- the heart, arteries, and veins. Cardiology is classified as an internal medicine subspecialty. Knowledge of internal medicine and other specialties is required to obtain certification.
- history and physical examination; basic and advanced cardiac life support; elective cardioversion; bedside right heart catheterization; insertion and management of temporary pacemakers, including transvenous and transcutaneous; right and left heart catheterization, including coronary arteriography.
The physician must be proficient in the following skills and techniques:
- evaluating and managing coronary artery disease and its manifestations and complications; arrhythmias; hypertension; cardiomyopathy; valvular heart disease; pericardial disease; pulmonary heart disease, including pulmonary embolism; peripheral vascular disease; cerebrovascular disease; heart disease in pregnancy; adult congenital heart disease; cardiovascular trauma
- managing acute and chronic congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction and other acute ischemic syndromes, acute and chronic arrhythmias, preoperative and postoperative patients, cardiac transplant patients, geriatric patients with cardiovascular disease
- diagnostic techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging, fast computed tomography, positron emission tomography
What is Interventional cardiology?
An Interventionist is the cardiology who has a knowledge base and clinical decision making of interventional procedures, such as catheterization, balloon angioplasty, stent insertion, Rotablator, and the use of various cutting and laser devices that remove plaque from arteries. One to two years of additional training is required.
What is cardiac catheterization?
When a coronary artery has been excessively narrowed by a fatty deposit called also atheromateous (mixture of fats, cholesterol, calcium …) the blood flow to the muscle tissue which depends on this artery will decrease. Pain, when making an effort, will follow and later, pain at rest, indicating that the cardiac muscle is suffering: that is angina pectoris. If the artery is entirely blocked, the corresponding muscle may be destroyed and replaced by a fibrous scar incapable of contraction: this is myocardial infarction, the seriousness of which essentially depends on the extent of the affected area.
When a cardiac valve is altered (by infection, calcium deposit, inflammatory disease such as acute rheumatism…). The blood flow inside cardiac cavities will be affected. This, more or less rapidly, leads to the incapacity of the heart to meet the needs of the body: this is congestive heart failure.
The cardiac catheterization involves passing a thin tube (catheter) into the heart through an artery allowing the pressures created by heart contractions to be studied. An injection of a contrast product, iodine base, visible to x rays, can be made through this tube. This cardiac cavities coronary arteries and the functioning of different valves can be seen and studied.
The catheter movement through the arteries is painless.
What is a Coronarography?
This exam consists in placing a catheter at the base of the coronary arteries and injecting about 5 cc of contrast product allowing the vessel visualization.
The atheromateous lesions narrowing blood flow can thus be seen. During the injection, an external camera films the contrast product evolution. The injections are repeated from various angulations, the radiology equipment moving around the patient.
CONTACT:
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES BIOMEDICAS
AV. LOS TULES No. 50-A
Puerto Vallarta Jalisco.
TEL: (322) 293-6161
(322) 293-5940
CELL PHONE: (322) 134-1294
E-mail: avajacardio@yahoo.com.mx |
