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Cardiology

Cardiology is the medical treatment of diseases of the heart and parts of the circulatory system. Cardiologists are the doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating these conditions.

Heart and vascular care in Plantation, Florida

Together, our team will listen carefully to your needs and help develop a treatment plan that works for you.

HCA Florida Westside Hospital provides superior heart care from a highly skilled team of physicians. These professionals specialize in internal medicine, cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular surgery. They have expertise in treating a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, including chest pain and heart attacks.

Understand your heart health

Taking a closer look at your heart health can give you a good idea about whether or not to reach out to a cardiologist.

Taking a closer look at your heart health can give you a good idea about whether or not to reach out to a cardiologist.

Related specialties

Learn more about our related specialties

Our heart and vascular services

Our experienced physicians, nurses, technologists and other cardiovascular health professionals know that having a healthy heart is critical to leading a healthy life.

Our heart screening and imaging services

Our specialists work closely together with you to screen for heart conditions and abnormalities using the latest diagnostic tests and methods, including:

  • Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan: detailed scan of the heart and its blood vessels
  • Cardiac stress test: test monitoring the heart's activity during exercise using electrodes
  • Electrocardiograph (EKG): test using electrodes attached to the skin to record the heart's electric activity
  • Echocardiograph: imaging test of the heart which shows current blood flow through the heart and blood vessels, as well as the size, color and motion of the heart
  • Endomyocardial biopsy: technique that takes a sample of the myocardial tissue
  • Filmless heart imaging: screening tests using fully digital images to view and assess the condition of the heart and coronary arteries
  • Holter monitoring: screening method during which the electrical activity of the heart is recorded as a patient performs daily activities
  • Intravascular ultrasound: diagnostic procedure that uses an ultrasound to view the coronary arteries and measure the plaque buildup
  • Vascular and arterial imaging: tests using high-frequency sound waves to create images which show the flow of blood and overall state of the vascular region

Cardiovascular procedures and treatments we offer

We use medical and surgical interventions to help restore flow to the heart and correct abnormalities. Some of these treatments and procedures include:

  • Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm repair
  • Bentall procedure
  • Coronary artery bypass
  • Esophageal repair
  • Lobectomy
  • Percutaneous removal of intravascular materials
  • Peripheral vascular surgery
  • Robotic lung resection
  • Tricuspid, mitral and aortic heart valve repair or replacements
  • Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
Cardiothoracic surgical services

In addition to our cardiovascular surgical services and treatments, we have thoracic surgeons who treat:

  • Cancerous and noncancerous tumors and diseases of the lungs and chest area
  • Chest infections
  • Emphysema
  • Mesothelioma
  • Pleural diseases (including pneumothorax, infections and pleural effusions)

Lung Nodule Program

To help with the early detection and treatment of lung cancer, physicians may refer patients who meet specific screening criteria for a low dose CT scan. This will be read by a board-certified radiologist with results sent back to the referring physician. If you need follow-up care, an appointment is fast-tracked with the appropriate specialist.

From beginning to end, our dedicated Lung Nodule Nurse Navigator will guide you. They will also work hand-in-hand with a Lung Cancer Navigator through our partnership with Sarah Cannon, powered by HCA Healthcare, to transition you to oncology services if needed.

Interventional cardiac procedures

Interventional cardiac procedures we offer include:

  • Atherectomy
  • Carotid stenting
  • Catheter-assisted thrombolysis
  • Coronary (balloon) angioplasty
  • Cutting balloon angioplasty
  • Extracorporeal support solution (ECMO)
  • Intracoronary stent implantation
  • Laser atherectomy
  • Left and right cardiac catheterization (diagnostic and treatment technique)
  • Left and right catheter ventricular assist device
  • Mitral valve or aortic valvuloplasty
Structural heart therapies

Structural heart therapies are minimally invasive procedures. They are used to treat faulty heart valves or help reduce stroke risk (as alternatives to long-term blood-thinner medication usage). These procedures are performed using a catheter instead of making a large incision in the chest. We typically use these advanced methods as part of our structural heart care program.

Three of our structural heart procedures are:

  • Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER): fixes a leaky mitral valve (a condition called mitral regurgitation)
  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): replaces a narrowed heart valve that won’t open properly (a condition called aortic stenosis)
  • Left atrial appendage closure (LAAO) implant: closes off an area of the heart to keep harmful blood clots in the left atrial appendage from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke
Vascular care

Our experienced vascular and endovascular teams use the latest technology and minimally invasive procedures for higher quality vascular surgery and care.

Interventional vascular procedures we offer include:

  • Atherectomy
  • Biopsies
  • Carotid, aorta or leg stenting
  • Cerebral aneurysm coiling, balloon or stenting
  • Thrombectomy
  • Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)

Surgical vascular procedures we offer include:

  • Arterial venus fistula creation and revision
  • Carotid endarterectomy
  • Catheter insertions for long-term care, including chemotherapy and dialysis
  • Femoral popliteal bypass

Heart attack treatment and emergency heart care

When a patient is experiencing heart attack symptoms, our team provides rapid care based on lifesaving, results-driven standards. They will work as fast as possible to ensure you are treated right away, saving your heart tissue and possibly even your life.

Specifically, our emergency care services use the "Code STEMI" (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) protocol. As part of this, a specially trained cardiac care team quickly assembles and is ready to treat a patient and perform any interventional procedures the patient needs. For patients, this translates into increased survival rates and decreased brain damage.

Don't take heart attack symptoms lightly. If you believe someone is experiencing a heart attack, immediately call 911.

Electrophysiology (EP) lab

Cardiac EP is the field of medicine dedicated to arrhythmias and other conditions related to the heart’s electrical system. EP studies typically involve the insertion of an electrode catheter (thin, flexible tube) into the heart.

Our physicians use our EP Lab to provide EP studies and advanced diagnostic services in these cases. They offer multiple modalities to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib), atrial flutter and other heart rhythm disorders.

Our EP lab has state-of the-art technology capable of performing a wide range of procedures, including:

  • Atrioventricular nodal conduction recording
  • Atrial and ventricular pacing and recording
  • Cardiac 3D mapping
  • Cardiac ablations and implantations (including laser ablation and ablation with mapping)
  • Device implantations, including:
    • Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD)
    • Bi-ventricular (BiV) pacemaker implantation and maintenance
    • Loop recorder
    • Pacemaker implantation and maintenance
  • EP studies
  • Laser lead extractions
  • Tilt-table test
  • Transesophageal echocardiogram

Cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU)

Our cardiovascular treatment facilities include a CVICU with intensive beds. The CVICU allows us to offer advanced care for patients who have experienced a cardiac event, such as heart attack, or who need extra attention following a heart procedure.

For less critical patients, we have a step-down telemetry (continuous heart monitoring) post-treatment nursing area.

What is congestive heart failure?

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a condition in which a person has excess fluid in the lungs. It is generally caused by a backup of fluid from the heart. The excess fluid may be caused by an injured heart pump, damage to a heart valve, or stiff heart muscle. Regardless of the cause, the fluid must be removed. Treatment options include medications, medical procedures or surgery.

Dr. Kenneth Zelnick discusses the timeline of a heart attack

HCA Florida Westside Hospital provides superior heart care from a highly skilled team of physicians. These professionals specialize in internal medicine, cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular surgery. They have expertise in treating a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, including chest pain and heart attacks.

Our Cardiology Locations

Currently Viewing:

Westside Hospital
8201 W Broward Blvd
Plantation, FL 33324
 (954) 473 - 6600

Currently Viewing:

Westside Hospital
8201 W Broward Blvd
Plantation, FL 33324
 (954) 473 - 6600
University Hospital
3476 S University Dr.
Davie, FL 33328
 (954) 475 - 4400

3.3 miles

Woodmont Hospital
7201 N University Dr
Tamarac, FL 33321
 (954) 721 - 2200

6.1 miles

Healthy Living Blog

Read our blogs to learn about preventive care and ways you can lead a healthier lifestyle.

Don’t blow a fuse: Protect your heart during March Madness 

March 06, 2024
Learn how to keep your heart in tip-top shape when cheering for your favorite team with tips from HCA Florida Healthcare.

Don’t blow a fuse: Protect your heart during March Madness 

March 06, 2024
Learn how to keep your heart in tip-top shape when cheering for your favorite team with tips from HCA Florida Healthcare.

7 habits that could be sabotaging your heart health 

February 10, 2024
Could you be putting your heart health at risk without knowing it? We asked HCA Florida Healthcare cardiologist Dr. Allan Stewart to weigh in on seven bad habits for heart health and tips on how to break them.

Is dark chocolate good for your heart? 

February 05, 2024
Tayla Holman
As Valentine's Day approaches, chocolate lovers may be wondering: Is dark chocolate good for your heart? Here's what you should know.