Interventional Cardiologist

Medical Malpractice with Baltimore Interventional Cardiologist Lawyer Mark Kopec

Interventional cardiologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and blood vessel diseases. They train in performing minimally invasive procedures to open blocked arteries, repair damaged heart valves, and also treat other cardiovascular conditions. If you have been injured, you may have a medical malpractice claim and need Baltimore Interventional Cardiologist Lawyer Mark Kopec at the Kopec Law Firm.

Education and Training

Interventional cardiologists generally complete 12 years of medical training after high school. This includes four years of medical school, then three years of residency training in internal medicine, and three years of fellowship training in interventional cardiology.

Licensing and Board Certification

Interventional cardiologists license by the state medical board in the state where they practice. They are also board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the subspecialty of interventional cardiology.

Medical Conditions Treated

Interventional cardiologists treat a wide range of heart and blood vessel conditions, including:

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
  • Symptoms: Chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, fatigue, lightheadedness, and heart palpitations.
  • Nature: CAD is a condition where plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, narrowing them and also reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. This can lead to a heart attack if a blood clot forms and completely blocks an artery.
• Heart Attack
  • Symptoms: Chest pain or discomfort, pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness, or fainting.
  • Nature: A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle becomes suddenly blocked, often due to a blood clot. This can cause damage to the heart muscle, and then in severe cases, lead to death.
• Heart Failure
  • Symptoms: Shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet, rapid or irregular heartbeat, persistent cough or wheezing, and also reduced ability to exercise.
  • Nature: Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle weakens and cannot pump blood efficiently. This can then cause fluid buildup in the lungs and other organs, leading to various symptoms.

Additional Conditions

• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
  • Symptoms: Leg pain or cramping during exercise, numbness or weakness in the legs, cold feet, sores on the legs or feet that won’t heal, and erectile dysfunction.
  • Nature: PAD is a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the legs, arms, and also other organs. This can reduce blood flow and cause pain and other symptoms.
• Aortic Aneurysm
  • Symptoms: Most aortic aneurysms don’t cause symptoms until they rupture. However, a large aneurysm may cause chest pain, back pain, or a cough.
  • Nature: An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta, the large blood vessel branching off the heart. If the aneurysm ruptures, it can cause severe internal bleeding and death.
• Structural Heart Disease
  • Symptoms: Symptoms vary depending on the specific type of structural heart disease. They may include shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, swelling in the legs, and irregular heartbeat.
  • Nature: Structural heart disease refers to a variety of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function. These conditions can include valve problems, defects in the heart’s chambers, and other abnormalities.

Diagnostic Tests – Baltimore Interventional Cardiologist Lawyer

Interventional cardiologists use a variety of diagnostic tests to evaluate their patients’ heart health. These tests may include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
  • What it’s for: An ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart.
  • How conducted: Electrodes are placed on the chest and limbs to record the heart’s electrical signals.
  • What it shows: An ECG can detect abnormal heart rhythms, heart enlargement, and damage to the heart muscle.
• Echocardiogram
  • What it’s for: An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create images of the heart.
  • How conducted: A small device called a transducer is placed on the chest to emit sound waves and record the echoes.
  • What it shows: An echocardiogram can show the size and shape of the heart, the thickness of the heart muscle, the function of the heart valves, and the presence of any abnormalities in the heart chambers.
• Stress Test
  • What it’s for: A stress test evaluates the heart’s response to exercise or medication.
  • How conducted: The patient exercises on a treadmill or stationary bike while their heart rate and blood pressure are monitored. In some cases, medication is used to simulate exercise.
  • What it shows: A stress test can detect coronary artery disease and assess the heart’s ability to pump blood.

Additional Tests

• Cardiac Catheterization
  • What it’s for: A cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic procedure that involves inserting a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin or wrist and threading it to the heart.
  • How conducted: Once the catheter is in place, contrast dye is injected to visualize the coronary arteries.
  • What it shows: A cardiac catheterization can detect blockages in the coronary arteries and assess the severity of the blockage.
• Coronary Angiography
  • What it’s for: A coronary angiography is a type of cardiac catheterization that uses X-ray imaging to visualize the coronary arteries.
  • How conducted: A catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and threaded to the heart. Contrast dye is injected to highlight the arteries, and X-ray images are also taken.
  • What it shows: A coronary angiography can show the location and severity of blockages in the coronary arteries.

Treatments

Interventional cardiologists perform a variety of minimally invasive procedures to treat heart and also blood vessel conditions. These procedures are typically performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory. Some of the most common procedures generally include:

• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
  • What it is: PCI is a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked or narrowed coronary arteries.
  • How performed: A doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin or wrist and threads it to the heart. A balloon-tipped catheter then inflates to widen the narrowed artery, and the doctor may use a stent to keep the artery open.
• Angioplasty
  • What it is: Angioplasty is a type of PCI that uses a balloon-tipped catheter to widen a narrowed or blocked artery.
  • How performed: Similar to PCI, a doctor inserts a catheter into a blood vessel and threads it to the heart. The balloon inflates to compress the plaque against the artery wall, widening the vessel.
• Stent Placement
  • What it is: Stent placement is a procedure to insert a small, mesh tube called a stent into a coronary artery to keep it open.
  • How performed: A doctor delivers a stent on a balloon catheter to the narrowed artery. The balloon inflates to expand the stent, which then presses against the artery wall to keep it open.

Additional Treatments

• Atherectomy
  • What it is: Atherectomy is a procedure to remove plaque buildup from a coronary artery.
  • How performed: A doctor inserts a special catheter with a rotating blade or laser into the artery. The device shaves or vaporizes the plaque, then widening the artery.
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
  • What it is: TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure to replace a diseased aortic valve with a new, artificial valve.
  • How performed: A doctor inserts a catheter with a folded valve into a blood vessel in the groin or chest and then threads it to the heart. The valve then replaces the old, diseased valve.
• Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TMVR)
  • What it is: TMVR is a minimally invasive procedure to repair a leaky mitral valve.
  • How performed: A doctor inserts a catheter with a special clip or device into a blood vessel and then threads it to the heart. The device then repairs the valve and reduce leakage.

Work Settings

Interventional cardiologists generally work in hospitals, clinics, or private practices. They often work with other doctors, such as cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and primary care physicians.

Medical Malpractice Claims with Baltimore Interventional Cardiologist Lawyer Mark Kopec

Interventional cardiologists, like any other medical provider, can commit medical malpractice if they fail to provide care that meets the standard of care and their negligence causes harm to a patient. Some of the most common types of medical malpractice claims against interventional cardiologists generally include:

• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose a heart condition
• Failure to treat a heart condition
• Surgical error or improper performance of a procedure
• Failure to obtain informed consent
• Failure to monitor a patient after a procedure

Next Step: Call Baltimore Interventional Cardiologist Lawyer Mark Kopec

If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed by the negligence of an interventional cardiologist, you should contact a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. We can review your case and determine whether you have a valid claim.

Visit the Kopec Law Firm free consultation page or video. Then contact the Kopec Law Firm at 800-604-0704 to speak directly with Attorney Mark Kopec. He is a top-rated Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer. The Kopec Law Firm is in Baltimore and pursues cases throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.