Services and Advanced Therapies

Patients benefit from some of the most comprehensive services and advanced therapies available. Services and diagnostic procedures offered include:

Echocardiography

Ultrasound waves are used to create an image of the inside of the heart to evaluate heart structure and function. Color Doppler is used to identify abnormal communications in the heart and leaking of the heart valves.

Electrocardiography (ECG)

This test evaluates the electrical activity of the heart.

Holter monitoring

This test uses a small digital device to record the ECG over a period of time, typically 24 hours.

Radiography

A diagnostic test that uses x-rays to create a picture of the heart and lungs.

Cardiac catheterization

Catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat diseases of the heart and vessels such as patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonic stenosis, atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, coronary artery anomalies, arteriovenous fistulas, intrahepatic portosystemic shunts, and heartworm caval syndrome. Endomyocardial biopsies as well as vena caval and urethral stent placement are performed in our catheterization laboratory.

Pacemakers

These devices regulate heart rate and rhythm and are placed routinely at Texas A&M University in patients with abnormal electrical activity including atrioventricular block, sick sinus syndrome and atrial standstill.

Transesophageal echocardiography

This technique uses ultrasound mounted on the end of a probe passed down the esophagus to provide high quality images of the heart especially during cardiac catheterization procedures.

Surgery

Surgical procedures offered include patent ductus arteriosus ligation, epicardial pacemaker placement, isolated intracardiac mass removal, and thoracic duct ligation for chylothorax. Additionally, we provide advance cardiovascular surgery including hybrid procedures.