Interventional Cardiology
Dr Mthiyane is a cardiologist who specialises in interventional cardiology. As an interventional cardiologist, Dr Mthiyane has received additional education and training in diagnosing and treating a range of heart and vascular conditions. Traditionally, there have been two types of specialists that treat patients with heart conditions - cardiologists, who use medications, lifestyle changes and other therapies to treat patients, and cardiac surgeons who correct more acute problems through valve repairs, bypasses and other forms of cardiac and vascular surgery. Interventional cardiologists represent a third type whose scope of work incorporates aspects of both conventional cardiology and cardiac surgery. Interventional cardiologists tend to focus on less invasive, catheter-based treatments.
Dr Mthiyane specializes in treating heart conditions through a process called catheterization. Cardiac catheterization is a highly technical procedure that helps to examine how well your heart is working. It can be used in combination with other instruments/equipment to widen or unblock blood vessels. It involves the insertion of a thin flexible tube called a catheter into one of the patient's major blood vessels, usually in the thigh. Once the catheter is in place, the Doctor is able to thread the necessary instruments through the patient's body directly to the problem area. X Rays or other imaging is used to guide the instruments in real-time. There's only a small incision, and the patient usually only requires a local anaesthetic. Because catheterization methods are less invasive than traditional open surgery, recovery times are quicker.
Common conditions treated by interventional cardiology:
- Coronary artery disease: Is the narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart with blood and oxygen.
- Heart valve disease: Occurs when the valves that control blood flow into the heart’s chambers do not work correctly.
- Structural defects of the heart: Defects or disorders in the structure of the heart tissue or valves. These are usually present from birth.
- Chronic angina/chest pain