Management of complex, high-risk or turned down coronary cases
Hossein Dehghani, MD
Coronary interventions which are procedures involving ballooning and stenting of blocked heart vessels is what separated general cardiology from interventional cardiology. As with any other technical procedures these procedures range from simple to extremely complex. Conditions such as poor kidney function and heart failure in addition to blockages being heavily calcified or 100% blocked (CTO) make interventions more complex. Cases where open heart surgeons consider too high risk and when patients do not want an open heart operation are often some of the most challenging cases. Dr. Dehghani has consistently throughout his career been a referral source for these most advanced interventions. He uses roto-rooter devices to defeat the calcium and places temporary heart pump devices for his highest risk interventions that allow for a more stable procedure in people with heart failure.
During his tenure in Glendale he has not had any procedural mortalities, nor has he ever had to send any patient to emergency open heart surgery as a byproduct of procedural complications. He attributes this to extreme diligence intra-procedurally in addition to choosing a two year training program at UCSF as opposed to most training programs that are one year long.
He studies images for very long periods and has multiple plans ahead of time for any potential problems that can arise during the case. He also discusses risks and benefits of the procedure in a very open and honest way with the patient and their loved ones. He continues to improve his skills and technique by remaining engaged with his colleagues at UCSF and by attending multiple conferences on the new equipment and techniques of the Interventional Cardiology field.