Cardiology

Keep your heart in rhythm.

At Colquitt Regional Health System, we know that every heartbeat matters. If you have concerns about your cardiovascular health, our experts give you guidance, care, treatment and support. Keeping your heart healthy is the top priority of our cardiovascular and thoracic team.

The Hufstetler Heart Center at Colquitt Regional provides a full range of diagnostic tests, advanced treatments and rehabilitation and wellness support services. Your care team will use the latest technologies to detect abnormalities, assess and treat heart disease and disorders, and help you achieve and maintain a healthy heart. Your specialist will access the latest technologies to treat a wide range of heart and vascular conditions, from diagnostic procedures to minimally invasive surgeries, through recovery and beyond.

Conditions and Services

Conditions

Our cardiac, thoracic and vascular expertise keeps you close to home for a wide range of conditions, including:

Adult and Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease
Aneurysms
Aortic Disease
Arrhythmias (Irregular Heart Rhythms)
Atherosclerosis (Narrowing or Blockage of Blood Vessels)
Cardiomyopathy
Carotid Disease
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Coronary Artery Disease

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Heart Attacks (Myocardial Infarction or MI)
Heart Valve Disorders (including Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Valve Prolapse)
Hypertension
Pericarditis
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Stroke
Vascular Trauma

Services

To identify the underlying cause of your heart condition, one or more of the following diagnostic tests may be performed. Most of these procedures can be scheduled as an outpatient if your health is stable.

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

This quick, non-invasive test checks for peripheral artery disease (PAD) that occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs. PAD can cause leg pain when walking and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. ABI compares blood pressure measured at your ankle with blood pressure measured at your arm. A low index number may indicate narrowed or blocked arteries in your legs. An exercise ABI test, given before or immediately after walking on a treadmill, can assess the severity of narrowed arteries during walking.

If you have severe diabetes or significantly blocked arteries, your blood pressure may be taken at your big toe (toe-brachial index) to get an accurate test result.

Cardiac Catheterization

Used to diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular conditions, cardiac catheterization typically takes two to three hours from prep to completion and looks for plaque and narrowing or blockages in your coronary arteries. It can also measure blood pressure within the heart and evaluate heart muscle and valve function.

A cardiac cath is usually performed in the hospital, but can be done as an outpatient if your health is stable. Certain treatment options, such as angioplasty or stent placement to restore proper blood flow, are also accomplished via catheterization.

The cath may indicate the need for coronary bypass (open-heart) surgery. If your health is stable, your physician will refer you to a cardiovascular surgeon to assume your care for the procedure. There are, however, occasions when the need for surgery is emergent. Whether emergent or elective, you may be a candidate for a minimally invasive and/or robot-assisted surgery, depending on your unique circumstances.

Coronary Calcium Scoring

Using a CT scan, this test looks for a buildup of calcium on artery walls in your heart to help determine if heart disease is present and, if so, its severity. Plaque inside your coronary arteries can restrict blood flow to your heart muscle. Measuring calcified plaque may allow your doctor to identify coronary artery disease even before you have signs and symptoms.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart’s size, structure and motion allowing your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood. The images can be used to identify heart disease, check for problems with your heart valves or chambers and/or determine the cause of symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain. You may have one of several types of echocardiograms, including transthoracic, transesophageal, Doppler or stress echocardiograms.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

This common test records your heart’s electrical activity to determine if a heart attack has occurred, to help assess if one is developing and to monitor changes in heart rhythm.

Exercise Stress Test

With electrodes placed on your chest, this test measures heart function as you walk on a treadmill. It can help identify coronary artery disease, abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmias) and the possible cause of symptoms such as chest pain. A stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing are monitored. Or you may receive a drug that mimics the effects of exercise.

Holter Monitoring

A Holter monitor is a portable, battery-operated device worn for 24 to 48 hours or longer to record your heart’s activity and determine if you have fast, slow or irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias.

Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR)

Considered the best way to capture sporadic irregularities, this device is placed under the skin in a minor procedure and can record your heart’s rhythm for up to three years. It allows for remote monitoring and will tell your care provider how your heart is beating during daily routines. The device is invisible and doesn’t interfere with your activities. There are no patches or wires, and you don’t have to worry about getting the device wet while bathing or swimming.

Interventional Radiology (IR)

Interventional radiology is a less invasive option to diagnose and treat certain cardiac and blood vessel problems using advanced imaging techniques. IR procedures use a small incision and various imaging equipment — including ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, live X-ray and fluoroscopy — to guide tiny instruments through blood vessels and other pathways. Some conditions can be treated without the need for traditional surgery.

Nuclear Stress Test

A nuclear stress test shows how blood flows to the heart at rest and during exercise. A small amount of radioactive material called a tracer or radiotracer, is given by IV to enable images of the tracer moving through your coronary arteries. This helps to find areas of poor blood flow or damage.

This stress test can help determine your risk for heart attack or another cardiac event if your doctor knows or suspects that you have coronary artery disease. It may also be used to guide your treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition.

Peripheral Angiography

Using contrast dye and X-rays, this test helps to identify narrowing or blocked areas in the arteries that supply blood to your legs. Also called a peripheral arteriogram, doctors use a peripheral angiogram if they think blood is not flowing well in the arteries leading to your legs or, in rare cases, to your arms. The angiogram helps you and your doctor decide if a procedure such as peripheral angioplasty is needed to open the blocked arteries.

Tilt Table Test

Your doctor might recommend a tilt table test if you have repeated, unexplained episodes of lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting. You will be asked to lie on a table that is slowly tilted upward while measuring the response of your blood pressure and heart rate to gravity.

General and Preventive Cardiology

Our general and preventive cardiology services are designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to protect your heart. We promote heart health, work with you to prevent heart disease or detect it early, and support you in managing risk factors to reduce the chance of cardiovascular events. By addressing lifestyle factors, monitoring heart health and applying preventive measures, our goal is to keep your heart strong and resilient.

Anyone who has risk factors for or symptoms of heart disease may benefit from seeing a cardiologist. With a thorough understanding of your needs and health history, our providers will create a personalized treatment plan designed to slow or stop the progression of heart disease based on the latest cardiac care advancements and medical evidence. Services include:

Comprehensive Risk Assessment and Prevention Plans
Cardiac Screening and Monitoring
Medication Management
Education and Support

Peripheral Intervention

Our team of specialists includes experts in both heart and vascular disease, who can detect and treat abnormalities in the entire circulation system. Non-surgical interventional treatment options use catheters (small, flexible tubes) to repair damaged or weakened blood vessels, narrowed arteries or other parts of the heart structure. These procedures can help you prevent heart attacks, stroke or heart failure and provide solutions in critical situations such as cardiac arrest. They may also be used to treat chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, valve disease and heart structure defects.

Peripheral intervention is a minimally invasive procedure that treats blood vessels outside of the heart. These procedures are used to treat conditions such as peripheral artery disease (PAD).