Consultative Cardiology Program

First and second opinions on diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions

The Consultative Cardiology Program at Lankenau Heart Institute in the suburbs of Philadelphia is a vital line of defense for patients who are experiencing symptoms of a heart or vascular condition. Our multidisciplinary team of cardiac specialists, including physicians, nurses and dietitians, work together to secure a prompt diagnosis, identify appropriate treatment options, and facilitate long-term, follow-up care.

Distinguishing features of the program include:

• Cardiac risk assessment – If you have a medical and family history that increases your likelihood of developing a heart or vascular condition, a cardiac risk assessment can evaluate your 10-year risk of developing heart disease based on your age, gender, cholesterol levels and systolic blood pressure. Other factors taken into consideration include weight, activity level and smoking. For this assessment, you will complete a physical exam, questionnaire and a panel of blood tests.
• Preventative medicine – Our cardiology team works with people who are at risk of developing heart disease to create personalized plans that reduce their risk while improving short- and long-term health. These plans often include diet and exercise modification, smoking cessation, medication and, in some cases, intervention or surgery.
• Diagnostic evaluation – Lankenau Heart Institute’s cardiologists draw upon the full range of diagnostic tools, including HeartFlow Analysis, cardiac stress test, tilt table testing, angiogram, and cardiac catheterization, when evaluating patients with potential heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart attack and diseases of the blood vessels in the legs (peripheral artery disease).
• Medical management – In some cases, a heart condition can be effectively managed with medication. We have access to the latest research and clinical trials and can provide you with options not available at many other hospitals.
• Intervention – Using a catheter-based approach (a thin, flexible tube), our interventional cardiologists go through the wrist (radial artery) or the leg (femoral artery) to open blocked blood vessels and place tiny stents within the vessel to keep it open. This approach decreases overall trauma to the body by eliminating the need for open surgery and gets you back to normal activities more quickly.
• Preoperative evaluation – Prior to surgery, the cardiology team evaluates and, if necessary, takes measures to prepare higher risk patients for surgery. This process helps to improve your prognosis, reduce the length of hospital stay and minimize the chances of a postponed or cancelled surgery.

Cardiovascular clinical trials at Main Line Health

Main Line Health uses clinical trials to help prevent, diagnose and treat the full range of heart and vascular conditions. Learn more about the cardiovascular clinical trials currently being offered by our renowned cardiologists and heart and vascular surgeons.