Ask our physician

My physician told me that I have blockages in my arteries. He's referred me to Deborah Heart and Lung Center, but said that I might need intervention or surgery, depending on the severity of the problem. What’s the difference between intervention and surgery? —John T., Toms River

I know this topic can be confusing. Surgery traditionally involves a patient being wheeled into an operating room (OR) and having general anesthesia and an incision made in his or her chest to perform a procedure to bypass the blockages. An intervention, on the other hand, is performed in the cardiac catheterization lab and repairs the blockages through a catheter threaded from an artery in the patient’s groin or wrist to the heart. A variety of complex procedures can now be done through these interventions, often referred to as minimally invasive procedures, although sometimes surgery is necessary. More frequently, the line between intervention and surgery is blurring as operating rooms and cath labs are joining together into one seamless procedural suite, such as a hybrid OR. When you meet with your cardiologist, he or she will discuss these options and equip you to make the decision that’s right for you.

—Jon George, M.D. Attending Physician, Interventional Cardiology, and Medical Director, Clinical Research Department at Deborah Heart and Lung Center. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-555-1990.