Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) – also known as coronary heart disease – often results from the accumulation of fatty deposits or plaque within the coronary arteries. These fatty deposits may develop as early as in childhood and continue to thicken and change. This thickening, called atherosclerosis, narrows the arteries and can decrease or block the flow of blood to the heart.

The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. Like all other tissues in the body, the heart muscle needs oxygen-rich blood to function, and oxygen-depleted blood must be carried away. When the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the heart is partially or completely blocked, serious problems such as a heart attack can occur.

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Our Team

Inova Schar Heart and Vascular is recognized nationally for its leadership in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease from its beginning to most advanced stages.

Each year nearly 2,500 percutaneous coronary interventions are performed at Inova to open blocked coronary arteries and restore blood flow to the heart tissue without open heart surgery. Because a large number of these procedures are performed using minimally invasive techniques, requiring only small incisions, many patients do not require an overnight hospital stay.

Most often, coronary artery disease is initially diagnosed and managed by a cardiologist. Depending on the course of treatment, other specialists who may be involved in a patient's care could include interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and vascular surgeons.

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