Cardiology

To determine the best treatment for your heart, we offer numerous diagnostic imaging services, including:

• Echocardiology
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Event recorder placement
• Pericardiocentesis

Our team of specialists offers a complete spectrum of cardiac, vascular and thoracic services for heart conditions. We perform both minimally invasive and traditional heart surgeries, and use leading-edge techniques such as nuclear cardiology.

Our hospital is the only provider of structural heart and valve disease care, as well as minimally invasive valve repair and replacement, for the entire Southeast Idaho, Western Wyoming and Southern Montana region.

Performed in our cardiac catheterization laboratory (cath lab), this procedure involves a doctor placing a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin, arm or neck, routing it through the aorta and then to the heart. Once in place, the catheter allows our physicians to perform numerous cardiac tests, measure your heart's blood pressure, evaluate heart valve and chamber function, identify narrowed or clogged arteries and check for congenital heart abnormalities.

We average around 2000 cath lab procedures every year, more than any other hospital in our region and rivalling the amount done in major metropolitan areas.

A heart arrhythmia describes a misfire in the sequence of electrical impulses that controls how the heart pumps blood. When a misfire occurs, the heart may beat irregularly, too quickly or too slowly. There are many heart arrhythmia causes, including arterial blockages, diabetes, heart attack, high blood pressure, stress and thyroid problems. Our team offers elective cardioversion as treatment.

A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle starts dying from a lack of blood flow. Given how dangerous this can be, you should seek immediate medical attention if you show any potential warning signs, including:

• Becoming fatigued quicker than normal
• Chest discomfort
• Excessive sweating
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Nausea
• Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms
• Shortness of breath

Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, means that the heart muscle has become too weak to pump blood effectively. While heart failure symptoms are often ignored or confused for other medical conditions, you should seek medical attention if you experience any combination of the following:

• Bloating in the belly
• Chest pain
• Confusion or impaired thinking
• Coughing
• Decreased appetite
• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath upon exertion
• Swelling in the feet, ankles or fingers
• Three or more pounds of weight gain in 24 hours or a pound a day for three days
• Trouble breathing when lying down or going to sleep
• Waking up breathless
• Weakness

When other treatments have proven ineffective, heart surgery, such as thoracic surgery, can be a viable option for addressing cardiac complications. Most commonly, surgery is needed to manage heart failure, plaque buildup in coronary arteries, damaged heart valves and structures, infected blood vessels and abnormal heart rhythms. In addition, surgery can necessary for implanting devices that control heartbeats and function.

Structural heart complications involve the heart's valves, chambers, walls and pockets. If these components retain damage or have inherent birth abnormalities, blood flow can be affected, possibly leading to heart failure, stroke or cardiac arrest.

Structural heart services we offer:

• Atrial septal defect (ASD) closure
• Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO)
• Paravalvular leak (PVL) closure
• Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr)
• Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR)

Vascular surgery is a subspecialty of cardiac surgery that addresses complications of the arteries, veins and the lymph system. Typical conditions treated include peripheral artery disease, aortic disease, mesenteric disease and carotid artery disease.

Our cardiac rehabilitation program is an exercise and educational program aimed at recovery from chronic conditions or heart surgery. We work to assess your fitness capabilities and limitations, provide support and craft a carefully structured plan designed to help you transition back to a healthier, more productive lifestyle.

In addition to our renowned adult cardiac care services, we serve children through the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic. Here, we specialize in diagnostic imaging services for babies, children and teens, including stress tests, echocardiograms and cardiac testing for urgent needs.

Our clinic is home to the region's only board-certified and fellowship-trained pediatric cardiologist, who is present for all cardiac imaging and can share real-time results. This arrangement allows families to learn vital information right away, as opposed to having to wait for a follow-up appointment.

In addition, our clinic offers your child numerous benefits, including:

• Dedicated pediatric rooms
• Sedation services with a pediatric anesthesiologist
• Technicians certified in pediatric echocardiography

Please connect with your pediatrician or pediatric cardiologist for a referral. If you have questions, or have a referral and are ready to set an appointment, please call (208) 529-7862.