Cardiology at Medical City Arlington

Cardiac care in Arlington, Texas

Medical City Arlington provides a full-service cardiovascular program for our patients. Our hospital has some of the most technologically advanced equipment to treat your heart health needs. We were also the first hospital in Tarrant County to become an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Resuscitation from the ACC Accreditation Services (formerly known as the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care).

To learn more about our heart care services, please call (858) 868-6262.

Cardiovascular services we offer

We provide a variety of services for patients in Arlington, Texas, including:

• Angioplasty
• Coronary artery bypass grafting
• Cardiac catheterization (diagnostic and interventional)
• Coronary and peripheral stenting
• Echocardiogram/transesophageal echo diagnostic testing
• Stress testing
• Pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) insertion
• Carotid artery stenting
• Therapeutic hypothermia treatment
• Electrophysiology studies
• Neuro diagnostic/interventional services

Heart screening and imaging

At Medical City Arlington, we offer calcium-score screening heart scans, a test used to determine the amount of calcium deposits found in plaque in the arteries.

Using a computed tomography (CT) scan, a technician can determine how much plaque is in the heart's arteries before symptoms develop, which helps your doctor evaluate your risk for future cardiovascular events.

You may be at increased risk if you have the following traits:

• Family history of cardiovascular disease
• Current or past smoker
• High cholesterol level
• High blood pressure
• Overweight

It's important to consult your doctor to determine how likely you are to get heart disease and whether calcium-score screening is appropriate for you. (This procedure is not recommended if you are pregnant.)

Interventional cardiology

When you schedule your appointment for a heart scan, ask what special instructions you should follow. You may be asked to avoid caffeine and smoking before the test.

Interventional cardiology involves the catheter-based treatment of heart disease. Most interventional cardiology procedures are minimally invasive, with most incisions only approximately a quarter inch or less in length. Using specialized studies for the heart, including cardiac catheterization or coronary angiograms, specialists are able to:

• Locate narrowing or blockages in the coronary arteries
• Gauge blood flow and blood pressure in the chambers of the heart
• Determine how well the heart valves function
• Check for abnormalities in the way the wall of the heart moves

Cardiovascular surgical procedures we perform

Depending on your condition, heart surgery may be a treatment option. Surgeons at Medical City Arlington perform traditional and minimally invasive surgical procedures for patients.

Robotic mitral valve repair

Robotic mitral valve repair is an alternative to conventional open heart surgery—the traditional way to treat mitral valve disease. Using this method, your surgeon is able to operate with unparalleled precision and control through a few small incisions.

This surgical technique can help your cardiovascular surgeon repair your valve and help you avoid mitral valve replacement, in which your natural valve tissues are cut away and replaced with an artificial valve. This is important because a repair can provide you with many significant advantages compared with mitral valve replacement, including a reduced risk of surgical complications and a better long-term life expectancy rate.

Mitral valve repair provides most patients the following benefits over open surgery:

• Less risk of infection
• Less blood loss and need for blood transfusions
• Shorter hospital stay
• Significantly less pain and scarring
• Faster recovery
• Quicker return to normal activities

This surgery may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

Cardiac rehabilitation

Our comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program provides patients with easy-to-understand information and practical lifestyle enhancing steps under the coaching of highly trained staff. With certification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, our program is committed to providing exceptional care in two phases: inpatient and outpatient.

In our program, you will receive an inpatient educational visit from a cardiopulmonary team member. You will discuss your diagnosis and procedure, personal risk factors for heart disease and positive effects of lifestyle modification on your heart health. The team will focus on establishing goals, reconditioning cardiovascular education and managing risk factors.

Outpatient cardiac rehab

The outpatient phase consists of weekly sessions and is designed for patients with:

• A recent history of stable angina
• Coronary angioplasty
• Coronary stenting
• Heart attack
• Coronary artery bypass graft
• Valve repair or replacement
• Heart transplant

During your 60-minute, supervised sessions, you will wear a lightweight monitor which allows us to view your electrocardiogram, track your heart rate and document your body's response while exercising. Your cardiologist or referring physician will receive reports on your progress during the program.

For more information about our cardiac rehab program, please call (682) 509-2850.

Patient education

We encourage our patients to continue their journey towards heart health by joining our maintenance exercise program. This self-paced phase is open to people with or without cardiovascular risk factors, anyone with a history of heart disease (but no recent event) and patients who have completed our cardiac rehab program.

Where to find the cardiac rehab team

The cardiac rehabilitation team is located in the Medical City Arlington Medical Office Building A at 515 W. Mayfield Road. There is parking available onsite for patients and visitors.

Early heart attack care

Learn the early warning signs of a heart attack and what to do if it worsens. Medical City Arlington, a Level II Trauma Center, helps educate the community through the use of Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC). Active bystanders can help save lives.

Heart healthy resources

• American College of Cardiology