Internal Medicine / Cardiovascular Diseases: About Us

FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT THE HEART AND VASCULAR CENTER, PATIENTS CALL (314) 362-1291 or (888) 210-8375 (toll free)

FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT THE HEART CARE INSTITUTE IN WEST ST. LOUIS COUNTY, PATIENTS CALL (314) 362-1291

FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT THE HEART CARE INSTITUTE IN SOUTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY, PATIENTS CALL (314) 362-1291

PHYSICIANS PLEASE CALL:

Click here for to Physician Information
Click here for Patient Information

Regional/National Referrals

We treat many patients from outside the region and outside United States. For North American referrals, physicians may call the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Doctors Access Line at (800) 252-DOCS (3627).

Patients in the continental United States may refer to Family and Guest Services for assistance with lodging.

1. Diagnostic cardiac catheterization
   • Coronary angiography
   • Left ventriculography
   • Right-heart catheterization
   • Measurement of intracardiac pressures and blood flow
2. Interventional cardiology
   • Percutaneous transcatheter coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or balloon angioplasty -- controlled fracturing of plaque by balloon expansion inside the blood vessel
   • Stent implantation -- expansion of coronary arteries or grafts by implanting intramural scaffolds (mesh bridges inside the blood vessel)
   • Rotational atherectomy (rotablator) -- removal of plaque inside blood vessels with high-speed diamond-tipped burrs
   • Transluminal extraction catheters (TEC) -- atherectomy or thombectomy (removal of plaque or blood clot by aspiration)
   • Directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) -- atherectomy with extraction of plaque
   • Angiojet -- aspiration of thrombus ( blood clot)
   • Intravascular ultrasound -- imaging of vessel plaque and wall from within the blood vessel
   • Valvuloplasty -- expansion of stenotic valves by balloon expansion
   • Brachytherapy -- treatment of coronary artery disease with radiation
   • Percutaneous transmyocardial revascularization (PTMR) -- revascularizing the ischemic myocardium by creating channels through the heart muscle using laser
   • Over 10,000 procedures are undertaken annually by Washington University cardiology specialists, with an acute success rate of interventional cases of 97%.
3. Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology (Arrhythmia)
   • Diagnostic electrophysiology study
   • Tilt-table test
   • Radiofrequency catheter ablation
   • Single and dual chamber cardiac pacemakers
   • Implantable cardioverter defribrillator (ICD)
   • Arrhythmia surgery
4. Cardiac Diagnostic Laboratory provides comprehensive and noninvasive assessment of cardiac anatomy, function and perfusion
   • Echocardiography services -- ultrasonic images of heart and great vessels
   • Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) -- An echocardiogram taken through a tube, which is inserted into the esophagus through the mouth. TEE takes ultrasound images of the heart motion. Some patients may receive a mild sedative to avoid discomfort.
   • Stress tests -- to detect coronary artery disease
     1. Treadmill test involves ECG monitoring and walking
     2. Stress thallium test involves ECG monitoring, walking, and injection of a radiopharmaceutical to measure coronary artery perfusion
     3. Stress echocardiogram involves ECG monitoring, walking and an echocardiogram.
     4. If a person is unable to exercise, medication may be used to exercise the heart
   • Carotid ultrasound -- non-invasive procedure that measures blood flow through the carotid artery
   • Peripheral vascular venous ultrasound -- non-invasive procedure that measures blood flow in the veins using ultrasound
   • Holter monitor -- non-invasive, portable continuous ECG monitor that a patient wears for a designated period of time to record heart activity.
   • Event recording -- non-invasive portable EKG device worn to capture recordings of episodic events of the heart.
   • Cardiac MRI -- non-invasive cardiac imaging, which provides information about heart function, myocardiac perfusion and morphology (structure of the heart). It can also be used for stress testing.

Clinical trials
Enrollment in clinical trials at Washington University may provide patients with options they cannot find anywhere else. Our physicians work with the patient and his/her referring physician when entering patients in trials that evaluate the efficacy and safety of new treatments and diagnostic techniques. Some which are being conducted in the division include electrophysiology studies, interventional trials, hypertension research, antithrombotic trials, cardiac imaging studies, heart failure/cardiac transplantation research.

We want to stress that under no circumstances is a patient urged to enter or is entered into a clinical research program unless he or she willingly volunteers to do so. Unwillingness to participate does not affect the level of your care or the concern of your cardiology specialist in any way.

Consultation and treatment for people outside of St Louis
Patients, please call the appointment number (314) 362-1291 or (888) 210-8375 (toll free) and press #1.

For more information about the Cardiovascular Division, visit the Washington University Cardiovascular Division web site.