Interventional cardiac catheterization 

Cardiac catheterization is a specialized procedure for diagnosing and treating heart conditions. We often use this minimally invasive procedure to treat congenital heart defects in infants and children instead of open-heart surgery.

Our philosophy is to avoid surgery whenever possible. In many cases, we can also combine diagnostic and interventional catheterizations, which minimizes the number of procedures your child might need.

Heart catheterization services at CHoR

Our full-service cardiac catheterization capabilities include a biplane lab – a cutting-edge technology that minimizes radiation exposure – dedicated to diagnostic evaluation and therapy in children. 

Our interventional cardiac team has expertise in:

• Pulmonary valve replacement
• Balloon valvuloplasty for aortic valve or pulmonary valve and mitral valve stenosis
• Closure of PDA and anomalous blood vessels
• Balloon atrial septostomy (Transposition of the great arteries)
• Creation of atrial septal defects when clinically needed (e.g. pulmonary hypertension)
• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
  • Management of intact atrial septum
  • Hybrid palliation
• Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE)
• Radiofrequency perforation for pulmonary atresia
• Septal defect device closure of most atrial and some ventricular septal defects (ASDs, VSDs, PFOs)
• Stent implantation for:
  • Branch pulmonary artery stenosis
  • Aortic coarctation
  • Stenotic conduits and homografts
  • Baffle obstruction in Mustard and Senning for patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA)
• Superior vena cava reconstruction for SVC syndrome or thrombosis

Regional resource for PDA closure in micro preemies 

Our expert, compassionate interventional cardiologists partner with neonatal intensive care units across Virginia and surrounding states for PDA closures in even the smallest infants. Babies are stabilized and transferred to CHoR for the procedure, monitored in our level 4 NICU and then transferred back to their home NICU, close to home and their support system.