Heart care at Brandywine Hospital

To make an appointment with one of our cardiologists, call 610-384-2211

 

Brandywine Hospital provides comprehensive heart care close to home. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the U.S. for both women and men. Fortunately, advances in diagnosing and treating heart problems and an increasing awareness of the importance of exercise and diet continue to improve the outlook.

Building upon our tradition of innovative cardiovascular care, we offer a full range of services including stress testing, holter monitoring, peripheral angiography, electrophysiology studies, cardiac catheterization, vascular surgery and cardiothoracic surgery as an affiliate of Penn Cardiac Care.

Cardiovascular Services at Brandywine Hospital

• Cardiothoracic Surgery includes a wide range of procedures to surgically treat diseases affecting the heart, great vessels and lungs.
  
• Vascular Surgery is a surgical approach to repair diseased portions of arteries and veins as well as the peripheral vascular system.
  
• Cardiac Catheterization is an invasive approach in which small tubes (catheters) are inserted into a chamber or vessel of the heart and are used to detect and treat coronary artery disease by using balloons, stents, drug coated stents and other devices.
  
• An Electrophysiology Study is a test to determine abnormal heart rhythms. Once detected, the abnormalities can be treated with Catheters, Pacemakers or Cardioverter Defibrillators.
  
• Peripheral Angiography is an invasive procedure that requires inserting small tubes (catheters) into the body and using x-ray images to visualize arteries in the head, neck, kidneys, legs and abdomen. If blockages are detected they can be treated by balloons, stents or other devices.
  
• Echocardiograms are non-invasive procedures that use the reflection of ultra-sound waves to allow doctors to see how the heart functions. The images produced by the ultra-sound waves can be viewed on a television monitor.
  
• Electrocardiograms usually referred to as EKGs or ECGs, are graphs showing the electrical activity of the heart. This is a very common non-invasive procedure that helps doctors diagnose heart disease.
  
• Holter monitoring is accomplished by wearing a small portable device which measures and records a patient's heart activity during normal activity over a period of time, usually a day or several days. The device is worn 24 hours a day, is unobtrusive, and often clipped onto a patient's belt or worn beneath regular clothes.
  
• Stress tests measure a patient's heart and lung activity while exercising, usually on a treadmill.
  

At Brandywine Hospital, inpatient and outpatient care is provided by a multidisciplinary team which may include cardiologists, hematologists, cardiovascular surgeons, vascular surgeons, physician assistants, nurses, medical technologists, dietitians, physical therapists, psychologists and others who are specifically trained to diagnose, treat and monitor all aspects of a patient's heart condition, progress and rehabilitation, including medical support, diet and exercise. We are here for you twenty four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. We provide comprehensive heart care, close to home.

 

Heart trouble? Here’s what to do. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 600,000 deaths annually from heart disease and more than 5 million visits to hospital emergency rooms due to chest pain. If you think you’re having a heart attack, don’t wait. Know the signs and symptoms of heart trouble, and call 9-1-1, or proceed to the closest emergency room: Chest discomfort, including uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Most heart attacks involve persistent discomfort in the center of the chest or chest pain that goes away and comes back again. Pain or discomfort in the upper body area, including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.  Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.   A cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness       To find a Brandywine heart physician, click here. Learn more about the heart-healthy habits you can incorporate into your diet and exercise routine to minimize your risk and promote longevity. For more information and exercise tips, click here.

How Much Do You Know About Your Heart?