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Comprehensive heart care from leading cardiology experts you trust.
We have learned a lot about heart health in the last 25 years, and now these once nearly unstoppable conditions have become treatable through lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery. One of the best defenses against heart disease is diagnosing it before it results in a cardiac event. USC Arcadia Hospital Cardiac Care, part of USC Cardiovascular Care, offers the latest diagnostic and treatment services. Our highly qualified Chest Pain Team is available 24 hours a day to evaluate and relieve chest pain quickly. Whether you are having a heart attack or believe you are at a high risk of heart disease, our team is ready to perform a thorough examination and help you make critical changes that give patients a second chance at life.
USC Arcadia Hospital’s cardiac care program has been recognized as Center of Excellence.
When dealing with a heart attack or cardiac event every minute counts. USC Arcadia Hospital is a dedicated STEMI receiving center for diagnosing and quickly treating heart attack patients.
Know when to go-signs you may be having a heart attack:
The above list is not an exhaustive list of heart attack symptoms. If you ever experience a sudden discomfort in your chest accompanied by weakness or dizziness it is in your best interest to seek medical attention.
The Chest Pain Team works round the clock in the Emergency Department and immediately performs an electrocardiogram (EKG) on patients complaining of chest pain. If heart attack signs are present you will be transferred to the catheterization laboratory and undergo an angiogram, which pinpoints the location of a closed artery. From there, the experienced team takes fast action and performs whichever procedure they believe will be most effective and treating the attack.
We provide a full spectrum of cardiac services, including:
Cardiac care often requires that you make some lifestyle changes to develop healthier habits. This can be a difficult challenge to go alone. Cardiac Rehab is an evidence-based program to help patients make lifestyle changes while in a program monitored by your medical team. In addition, we are proud to provide our patients access to the Mended Heart program where cardiac patients and their caregivers can interact with other people dealing with similar conditions and discuss their treatments. Speaking with others working to overcome heart disease can be very encouraging and help motivate you into sticking to new diets and exercises that will keep your heart pumping for a long time.
Though less-invasive treatments have come a long way, Heart surgery is still sometimes necessary to treat cardiovascular disease. The cardiology experts at USC Arcadia Hospital are skilled and experienced in a wide array of cardiac surgeries. Though surgery can be frightening, our staff will guide you through this process to build your confidence and put you and your family at ease. Our hospital is recognized as one of the safest hospitals in the U.S. by numerous organizations, so you can trust that you or your loved one will be in good hands during the procedure.
Below you will find an overview of some common cardiac procedures and how they are performed at USC Arcadia Hospital.
Though open-heart surgery is sometimes required to treat cardiovascular conditions, our cardiothoracic surgeons make use of the latest medical advances to make even these procedures as minimally invasive as possible. Many of our open-heart procedures are performed using the “off-pump.” This acts as a replacement for the heart-lung machine that allows patients to have breathing tubes removed sooner, improving comfort and speeding the recovery process.
Our team also makes use of a minimally invasive procedure to remove leg veins that can be used in the heart. Traditionally, this procedure has required surgeons to cut open a patient’s leg to access the vein, but our team makes use of a safe, cutting-edge technique that only requires a few strategic incisions to facilitate the removal.
Have you recently noticed your heart beating more rapidly? This may be an indicator that you are at risk of a serious heart complication. Atrial fibrillation is an irregularity in your heart’s electrical activity that causes an irregular heartbeat and impedes the heart’s ability to pump blood. You may not have many symptoms of AFib until a cardiac event occurs, but keep an eye out for:
There are a few procedures that treat AFib. One is a pacemaker implant, wherein a small device is placed under the skin near the heart to release electrical signals whenever it detects an irregular heartbeat. Another common procedure is ablation surgery. These are minimally invasive procedures where a catheter is inserted through the throat or groin and emits radio waves to destroy damaged scar tissue.
Clogged arteries are the result of plaque build in blood vessels. As arterial plaque builds up it increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiac events. Plaque is created from various substances like cholesterol and fat. It lines the walls of your arteries and reduces bloods ability to flow freely, forcing the heart to work harder. This condition is called atherosclerosis.
Cardiologists have come up with a number of operations that can remove arterial plaque and widen the arteries.
The following are some procedures used to remove arterial plaque:
There are several other forms of heart surgery your doctor may recommend for you condition. At USC Arcadia Hospital, our staff will be happy to answer any of your questions about various procedures. Simply knowing more about an operation can help increase your confidence and reduce anxiety.
For more information on our Cardiology Program, contact our team directly at 626-898-8845.
Abnormal heartbeats are called arrhythmia. This condition is characterized by strange electrical impulses that cause the heart to beat too fast or too slow. Electrophysiology studies (EPS) are exams that discern the details of an irregular heartbeat and help the doctor determine what can be done to treat it.
You may want to be in need of an EPS if:
An EPS is a minor surgery and you should prepare for it the same way you do many other operations. This includes fasting after midnight before the operation, asking your doctor if you can still take your regular medication beforehand, and having someone who can drive you to and from the hospital.
A nurse will administer a sedative through an IV. This is meant to relax you but will not necessarily put you to sleep. Staying awake is beneficial as the doctor will probably want to ask you some questions during the test. A small incision is made in the groin area where a doctor will insert catheters and weave them through a vein to the heart.
Electrical pulses are emitted through the catheter that stimulates the heart into beating at desired speeds. The catheters will record these signals and the resulting information should tell the doctor where the irregular heart beat is coming from.
If an EPS is done when it is already known that you have an arrhythmia, the doctor may try to treat the condition right there through an ablation procedure. In ablation, radio waves are emitted through a catheter that targets and destroy damaged tissue responsible for the arrhythmia.
EPS’s are mostly used for diagnostic purposes and not treatment. When the operation is over the medical team will patch you up and discuss the results with you. The doctor will tell you their recommended treatment for the condition, which may involve medication or undergo another operation.
Electrophysiology studies are offered at USC Arcadia Hospital of Southern California. We are nationally recognized for our impeccable safety standards and commitment to patient satisfaction. For more information on our Cardiology Program, contact our team directly at 626-898-8845.
USC Arcadia Hospital offers cardiac rehabilitation after surgery while patients are still hospitalized. In this proven heart health program, participants work under the supervision of medical professionals with the long term goal of improving physical fitness and developing healthy habits to reduce the risk of heart disease and benefit their overall well-being over time.
Heart disease may be one of the world’s most prevalent killers, but lifestyle changes can offer improvements in your overall health. While highly beneficial and potentially lifesaving, surgery is not a long-term solution for heart disease. Without working to change diet and exercise habits, there is nothing to stop your cardiovascular system from weakening again and causing more damage.
You should discuss cardiac rehab with your primary care provider or cardiologist if you have:
For more information on our Cardiology Program or Cardiac Rehabilitation, contact our team directly at 626-574-3422.
A cardiac catheterization (cardiac cath) procedure is used to examine your heart and check for damage and signs of heart disease. These are very common, safe procedures for patients who have recently experienced a cardiac event or suffer from chest pains.
During a cardiac cath, a doctor can:
This is a form of surgery, and it is natural to feel nervous, but you can take comfort in knowing that these are very safe procedures with minimal risk. When you arrive at the hospital for the procedure, someone will measure your blood pressure and check your pulse. A sedative will be administered through an IV, but you will remain awake during the procedure. The doctor may even have you view the heart through a monitor connected to the catheter’s camera, which many patients find helpful. A small puncture is made in the skin and a blood vessel through which the catheter is inserted. The doctor guides the catheter to the heart, examines the area, and performs further procedures as needed.
The catheter used during a cardiac cath may be outfitted with various instruments so that the doctor can treat certain conditions discovered during the operation. One of the most common cardiac procedures is called stenting.
Stents are often used to treat:
Your blood vessels need to stay wide open for blood to efficiently travel to and from the heart. Cholesterol, high blood pressure, and fat can build up a substance referred to as arterial plaque that lines the arteries and narrows blood vessels. Stenting is a treatment for this condition wherein a small, mesh tube is placed in the vessel to widen it. Stenting can be done on its own or placed after an angioplasty, which is a procedure that removes plaque or forces the vessel to widen before it is then held in place with the stent.
When the cardiac cath and stenting is finished, you are usually free to return home unless the doctor finds something that requires immediate attention. The procedure is minimally invasive, meaning you should be able to resume normal activities without a lengthy recovery. Be sure to keep an eye on the area the doctor punctured in case it starts to bleed or tingle. Though rare, call your doctor if you notice any irregularities.
USC Arcadia Hospital offers cardiac catheterization and stenting in our state-of-the-art cardiology department. Our Heart Care program is acknowledged as a Center of Excellence by the American Heart Association.
