Some of the leading edge technology recently adopted by the Glendale Heart Center include use of lasers, cutting balloons and combination therapies to treat heart disease. In fact, the Glendale Heart Center has become the leading laser heart center in the country, and we were one of the first in California to perform the cutting balloon. And the Glendale Heart Center cardiologists are actively participating in clinical trials. There are stents in development which contain medication to prolong the opening of the artery. The use of radiation therapy inside the coronary artery is being explored.
Gene therapy is another exciting front.
Our arsenal of treatments is constantly evolving. For the last decade, angioplasty has also been used as an emergency method for opening clogged arteries during a heart attack. Both of these methods have been responsible for the drop in mortality rates for heart attacks. Recently it's been found that thrombolytics used in tandem with mechanically opening the artery yield even better results. Dr. Lawrence O'Connor, MD, cardiologist for the Glendale Heart Center, has been actively involved with the use of combination therapy for treating heart attacks.