Cardiology and Cardiological Services

Offering a full spectrum of cardiology services – including screening and diagnostic tests, advanced medical and surgical treatments, and cardiac rehabilitation and education programs – our Huntington Hospital Heart and Vascular Center provides superior care, and we do it with heart. By the numbers: we perform 2,000 catheterizations and electrophysiology procedures, and 42,000 non-invasive cardiac diagnostic procedures each year.

In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked Huntington Hospital as a Best Regional Hospital in 14 types of care, including High Performing designations for aortic valve surgery, heart bypass and heart failure.

The Huntington Hospital Heart and Vascular Center exceeded national standards in nine out of 10 clinical measures, and has been recognized as a Center of Distinction by Blue Cross of California.

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TAVR – A Minimally Invasive Innovation

We are committed to providing our community with leading-edge cardiology care, including the groundbreaking and minimally-invasive TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) procedure.

Read more about the TAVR procedure below, or call (626) 397-2523 with any questions.

Leading the TAVR team at Huntington Hospital, Dr. Azhil (Alex) Durairaj, MD, interventional cardiologist, and Robbin Cohen, MD, medical director for cardiothoracic surgery (pictured), were the first in the San Gabriel Valley to perform the less invasive TAVR procedure.

TAVR is a minimally invasive replacement of heart valves. The TAVR procedure is a revolutionary new way to replace an aortic valve without a chest incision or the use of a heart lung machine. Studies show patients who have received this new device not only live longer, but feel better, and significantly improve their quality of life.

The TAVR procedure is performed by our dedicated Huntington Hospital heart team using the Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve, an FDA-approved product. During the procedure, the team inserts a valve through a small cut in the patient’s upper leg. The valve is advanced on a balloon catheter through the artery toward the native valve and leaving the new aortic valve inside the old one.

Critically, TAVR eliminates the need to open the patient’s chest or use a heart-lung machine used in traditional open-heart surgeries.

The groundbreaking TAVR technology benefits patients with significant medical issues in a minimally-invasive fashion. The aortic valve replacement procedure offers patients considered at high or moderate risk for traditional open-heart surgery an alternative treatment option.

Approximately 250,000 people in the United States suffer from severe aortic stenosis. Our team of Aortic valve specialists provide the best medical care to treat these patients. Until now, there has been no effective, long-term treatment option to prevent or delay disease progression in elderly patients with deteriorating medical conditions who may be ineligible for traditional open-heart surgery. Our team will find the right solution for you.

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WATCHMAN – Innovative Stroke Risk Treatment

Huntington Hospital is the only facility in the San Gabriel Valley to offer the FDA-approved WATCHMAN™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) device for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) as an alternative to the lifelong use of warfarin or Novel Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC) for people with AFib not caused by a heart valve problem (also known as non-valvular AFib).

Learn more about WATCHMAN at Huntington Hospital in our press release.

“The WATCHMAN device is a novel alternative for patients with non-valvular AFib at risk for a stroke, especially those with a compelling reason not to be on blood thinners. We provide over 2,000 catheterizations and electrophysiology procedures, and 42,000 non-invasive cardiac diagnostic procedures each year. I’m proud to now offer this safe and effective procedure to our patients seeking stroke risk treatment.”
Alex Durairaj, MD, medical director of Cardiovascular Services, Huntington Hospital.

Learn about WATCHMAN

The WATCHMAN device has been implanted in more than 50,000 patients worldwide and is done via a one-time procedure. It’s a permanent device that doesn’t have to be replaced and can’t be seen outside the body. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and takes about an hour. Patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next day.

An estimated five million Americans are affected by AFib – an irregular heartbeat that feels like a quivering heart. (1) People with AFib have a five times greater risk of stroke (2) than those with normal heart rhythms. The WATCHMAN device closes off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots that can form in the LAA from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke. By closing off the LAA, the risk of stroke may be reduced and, over time, patients may be able to stop taking warfarin or NOAC.

Download these information guides to learn more about WATCHMAN, Atrial Fibrillation and how to talk to your doctor about the best way to minimize your stroke risk.

For more information on the WATCHMAN device, please visit: www.WATCHMAN.com.

The following two surgeons at Huntington Hospital are FDA and CMS qualified to perform WATCHMAN device implant surgeries.

Dr. Azhil “Alex” Durairaj

Dr. Mayer Y. Rashtian

Services

The Heart and Vascular Center at Huntington Hospital offers the following cardiology services and programs.

We provide a full range of cardiac and vascular diagnostic and interventional services to patients with coronary artery disease. Our multidisciplinary team provides an unparalleled level of care 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. In addition, a nurse navigator provides ongoing support and educational services designed to reduce the risk of another cardiovascular event to all patients receiving cardiac procedures.

For more information, or to make a referral please call (626) 397-5221.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab

Our Services

We have a dedicated family waiting room and three catheterization laboratories complete with state-of-the-art technology, including digital, high-resolution radiography and a bi-plane angiographic system. Our interventional cardiology services include:

Treatment of coronary artery disease, including:
- Angioplasty / percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
- Stent (PCI)
- Atherectomy (rotoblator procedure)
- Intravascular lesion assessment (IVUS/OCT/FFR)
Treatment of peripheral vascual disease
- Diagnostic vascular and peripheral vascular angiography
- Peripheral artery angioplasty, atherectomy, and stent placement
- Carotid artery stent placement
- Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR)
- Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR)
- Venous angiography, thrombectomy, and angioplasty
- Treatment of varicose veins
- Pulmonary artery thrombectomy
Structural heart disease treatment, including:
- Valvuloplasty
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
- Closure of holes in the heart, including ASD/PFO/PDA
- Hemodynamic evaluation of pulmonary hypertension and vasoreactivity
Advanced heart failure treatment, including:
- CardioMEMS
- Implantable cardioverter difibrillator (ICD)
- Bi-ventricular (BI-V ICD)
- Subcutaneous ICD
Electrophysiology services
- Permanent pacemaker placement
- Leadless pacemaker placement
- Implantable loop (arrhythmia) recorder
- Electrophysiology studies and mapping of the heart
- Arrhythmia management (radio frequency ablation)

The Highest Standards

We serve as a designated ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) receiving center for Los Angeles County, and consistently exceeds national standards for time-to-treatment.
We achieved a distinctive five-star rating in national quality indicators and is among the top performing heart centers in the country in heart-attack care.
Quality outcomes are benchmarked against the American College of Cardiology for all diagnostic and interventional procedures performed in the catheterization lab.
We were the first hospital in the San Gabriel Valley to utilize the newly-approved drug-eluting stent for the treatment of coronary artery disease.

We offer services designed to assist patients recovering from coronary artery disease and cardiothoracic surgical procedures. Our goal is to improve your general fitness with an emphasis on cardiac conditioning, risk factor modification, cardiac disease education, treatment and prevention as well as health maintenance.

For more information or to make a referral please call (626) 397-5221.

Your Cardiac Rehab Team

Under the supervision of a physician, your cardiac rehab team works together to coordinate a personalized program for each patient. Your team includes registered nurses, a registered dietitian and a licensed clinical social worker. Registered nurses supervise all exercise sessions and are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support techniques and exercise physiology principles. A physician is available at all times.

On Average, 94 Percent Of Patients Admitted To The Program Successfully Complete Their Wellness Plan.

Heart Wellness

Our Comprehensive Heart Wellness Program includes:

Comprehensive history and screening by registered nurses
Personalized consultation with a registered dietitian, heart-healthy nutrition counseling, diabetes education, body fat testing and cooking classes designed specifically for individuals with heart disease
Individualized exercise program to maintain lifestyle changes
Inpatient and outpatient access to emotional assessment and counseling, as needed
Stress management, including individual counseling, group lectures and spouse support
Heart-to-Heart mentorship from former heart patients who are available to answer questions from a patient’s perspective

Dedicated Facilities

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is located in the Wingate Building, with dedicated rehabilitation facilities and state-of-the-art equipment designed to assist patients in achieving the highest level of cardiac function possible. Services are provided Monday through Friday, from 5:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Our Cardiothoracic Surgery Program offers invasive and minimally-invasive surgeries for patients with diseases of the heart, lungs, esophagus and chest wall.

For more information, please call (626) 397-5221.

Surgical Procedures

Our dedicated heart team and surgical suite are on call 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. The cardiothoracic surgery team consists of board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons, board-certified anesthesiologists, advanced practice nurses and technologists. Our surgeons and clinical staff offer comprehensive state-of-the-art surgical procedures, including:

Adult cardiac and thoracic surgery
Aortic stents and aortic repair
Endoscopic vein harvest
Minimally-invasive cardiac surgery
Valve replacement and repair (TAVR)
Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
Robotic assisted surgery

Support Team

The Cardiothoracic Surgery Program includes a dedicated clinical nurse specialist who provides education and training for staff providing care to cardiothoracic surgical patients postoperative and in the ICU. In addition, our team of caring clinical professionals includes a dedicated nurse practitioner with a specialization in cardiac medicine who provides education, counseling and post-discharge coordination of care for each patient to ensure they achieve the best possible outcome.

The Cardiothoracic Surgery Program is dedicated to improving the quality of care and ensuring superior clinical outcomes for all our patients. Our surgeons and clinical staff participate in ongoing clinical trials, and several of our surgeons serve as faculty members at nationally-renowned academic institutions. In addition, Huntington Hospital participates in the STS national outcomes database program and the California CABG Outcomes Reporting Program (CCORP), contributing valuable outcomes data to the research community.

We offer the most advanced invasive and non-invasive electrophysiology diagnostic and treatment services available in the industry. A multidisciplinary team of board-certified electrophysiology cardiologists, registered nurses and technologists provides care in a state-of-the-art facility equipped with digital, high-resolution radiography, 3-D mapping technology and a bi-plane angiographic system.

For referral to an electrophysiology physician, please call (800) 903-9233.

Services

Electrophysiology services include:

Permanent pacemaker placement
Leadless pacemaker placement
Implantable loop (arrhythmia) recorder
Electrophysiology studies and mapping of the heart
Arrhythmia management (radio frequency ablation)
Advanced heart failure management
- CardioMEMs
- Implantable Cardiovertor defibrillator
- Bi-ventricular (BI-V ICD)
- Subcutaneous ICD

Highest Standards

We are dedicated to advancing the practice of electrophysiology and cardiac medicine and participates in several clinical research studies, including the MADIT trial. The program is led by a physician with board certification in clinical cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular disease, and fellowship training in electrophysiology. The electrophysiology laboratory is dedicated to continuous quality improvement and participates in the National Cardiac Device Registry. Our physicians are involved in extensive research and several of our medical staff serve as faculty members at nationally-renowned academic institutions.

Support Services

Consultative and diagnostic reports will be provided to referring physicians within 24 hours of service. The electrophysiology lab provides routine services Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Emergency services are provided 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-per-week.

Our Non-invasive Vascular Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the diagnosis of vascular and arterial disease.

Non-invasive vascular services are provided in the Huntington Pavilion, our comprehensive outpatient facility adjacent to Huntington Hospital.

For more information, or to make a referral please call (626) 397-5221.

The lab provides a comprehensive array of services to patients requiring vascular studies, including:

Abdominal vascular studies
Carotid studies
Peripheral arterial scanning
Peripheral venous scanning
Transcranial imaging
Vein mapping

Support Services

Non-invasive laboratory services are performed Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Huntington Pavilion. Same-day scheduling is available through the emergency department, and testing is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week in the inpatient vascular lab. Final reports for non-emergent patients are provided to referring physicians within 24 hours of service.

Our Emergency Department is dedicated to providing prompt intervention during a cardiac emergency. One of the most important predictors heart attack survival is how long the patients wait to receive care. When a patient is admitted through Huntington Hospital’s emergency department, intervention begins within minutes of arrival. Patients move from the Emergency Room to our cardiac catheterization laboratory significantly faster than the national average.

We offer a full range of diagnostic services to patients experiencing heart-related problems. Our testing capabilities permit us to determine the presence and extent of cardiac diseases and disorders. In many cases, a patient’s condition can be diagnosed using exclusively noninvasive techniques.

For a physician referral, please call (800) 903-9233.

Diagnostic Services

Cardiovascular risk screening performed in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center
Electrocardiography and all the types of echocardiography (TTE/TEE) procedures performed in non-invasive cardiology
Exercise testing as well as pharmacological stress testing, which allows us to stimulate exercise among patients who have orthopedic or other movement difficulties performed in Non-Invasive Cardiology
Non-invasive evaluation of peripheral and cerebral brain circulation performed in our Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory Services
Comprehensive Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Services including angiography, electrophysiology procedures and peripheral arterial interventions

Resources

We know that heart disease affects our patients, and their families and friends, in many ways. We are committed to providing support and resources for you and your loved ones.

These references are shared for educational purposes. Please consult with your physician or appropriate medical provider if you have any questions regarding your health.

Visit the American Heart Assocation to find out more about heart disease, understand the risk factors, learn to recognize the signs of heart attack, and find information about healthy lifestyle choices.