Cardiac Care Areas

At Valley our cardiology team manages and treats risk factors and cardiac conditions including the following: 

• Abnormal cholesterol (dyslipidemia)
• Angina pectoris
• Arrhythmias
• Atherosclerosis
• Coronary heart disease
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Heart failure
• Heart valve diseases
• High blood pressure/hypertension
• Peripheral arterial disease

VMC's cardiac care includes the following diagnostic and preventive services:

• Treadmill testing
• Echocardiography
• Holter-event monitoring
• Nuclear medicine studies
• 24-hour acute chest pain evaluation

From evaluation to life-saving procedures, when patients need us most, we’re right here with state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs. Some types of heart disease improve with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)  procedures to open blocked vessels in the heart and restore blood flow. PCI is now considered the gold standard of care for an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). Procedures can include the following, including transradial access (procedures done through an artery in the wrist for quicker recovery and patient comfort):

• Cardiac Catheterization, including (transradial access)
• Coronary angioplasty and stents
• Intravascular ultrasound
• Instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) measurement
• Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
• Thrombus aspiration

The cardiac electrophysiology (EP) service at Valley provides care for people with electrical issues of the heart, such as irregular heartbeat, also called arrhythmia. While it’s not unusual to feel like your heart flutters, races, or skips a beat, some heart arrhythmias don’t cause problems while others require treatment. At Valley we are proud to announce the addition of electrophysiology, allowing us to both diagnose and treat electrical issues of the heart in our state-of-the-art EP lab. Experienced physicians and staff use the latest techniques to diagnose and treat heart arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, or A-fib. We use advanced 3-D mapping and imaging technologies, helping get heartbeats back in sync through cardiac ablation, implantable devices such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and other treatments. 

The Cardiac Arrhythmia Service provides comprehensive care for patients with all types of cardiac arrhythmias. Our experienced specialists work with patients to determine the cause of their heart rhythm problems and develop a plan of care designed to control symptoms, improve quality of life and long-term prognosis. Valley offers a unique combination of experienced providers and a state-of-the-art electrophysiology lab with the convenience of a community hospital.  

Conditions treated include: 

• Atrial fibrillation
• Atrial flutter
• Supraventricular tachycardia
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
• Slow heart beat (bradycardia)
• Genetic heart rhythm problems (e.g. Long QT syndrome)

Common procedures performed:

• Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation
• Catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia including Wolff Parkinson White syndrome
• Catheter ablation of atrial flutter
• Catheter ablation of PVCs and ventricular tachycardia
• Pacemaker implantation
• Leadless pacemaker implantation
• Biventricular pacing for heart failure
• Defibrillator implantation including subcutaneous ICDs

Valley has a longstanding history of offering non-invasive cardiology services to test and diagnose heart conditions. From treadmill stress testing and holter monitors to EKGs, vascular ultrasound and echocardiography exams, we have the capability and expertise to evaluate  a wide range of potential heart conditions.

When recovering from a cardiac event or heart-related procedure, patients need extra care and support. At Valley’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program, specialized nurses monitor patient progress and vitals. We also integrate exercise and nutrition experts to help patients recover safely as they progress toward fitness and renewed health. Patients with the following are encouraged to participate:

• recent heart attack
• heart failure
• coronary artery bypass surgery
• angioplasty
• stent placement
• valve replacement surgery
• stable angina or other heart problems

Straight Talk from a Heart Doc with Dr. Kenneth Igbalode

In this video, Dr. Igbalode answers the following questions:

• 0:14 | What do cardiologists do and what type of patients do they care for?
• 0:43 | What are the common reasons a primary care provider would refer someone to a cardiologist?
• 1:25 | What are some diagnostic tests or tools to assess a patient for a heart condition?
• 3:34 | What are some recent advances in cardiovascular treatments that you're excited about as a heart doctor?
• 5:43 | If a special cardiac procedure is needed, what does Valley offer?
• 7:05 | What are some cardiac signs or symptoms that people should not ignore? How may symptoms differ between men and women?
• 8:19 | What are some healthy habits people can do to try to prevent the need for a visit to the cardiologist?

Cardiac Electrophysiology

In this video, you'll meet Valley's Electrophysiologists, Lee Dolack, MD, and Sawyer Gillespie, MD, as well as some of the team members who work with them in Valley's state-of-the-art electrophysiology lab. 

Strategies for Living a Heart Healthy Life with Dr. Rajib Choudhury