Coronary Artery Disease
Call for an AppointmentDuke cardiologists in Raleigh, Durham, and throughout North Carolina identify coronary heart disease at its earliest stage and use lifestyle changes as well as medical and surgical techniques to prevent serious complications such as heart attacks. We offer individualized treatment plans to people with complex coronary artery disease that may not be treatable at other centers. Our goal is to optimize blood flow to your heart and help you live as active and healthy a lifestyle as possible.
Expert Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease
What Is It?
Coronary heart disease develops when the arteries that supply blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your heart become narrowed or blocked by the buildup or rupture of plaque. Over time, the disruption of blood flow may cause chest pain, also known as angina, shortness of breath, and general fatigue. As it progresses, coronary artery disease may lead to a heart attack and seriously damage your heart muscle.
Our Goal for Your Care
Our goal is to identify coronary artery disease at the earliest possible stage. We engage you in an active prevention and treatment program to manage your coronary artery disease and prevent a heart attack from occurring. If your disease is advanced, we perform heart bypass surgery using minimally invasive and open surgical techniques. We routinely treat people who have multiple and complex blocked arteries. Our involvement in clinical trials means you gain access to the most advanced therapies for coronary artery disease before they become widely available.
Duke Health offers locations throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.
Tests
We offer a range of tests to evaluate and identify coronary artery disease. Depending on your individual condition and circumstances, your care team may recommend one or more of the following:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Small electrodes are placed on your skin to record your heart’s electrical impulses. The tracings may help identify risk for or prior heart muscle damage.
Stress Test
A stress test is an ECG that’s performed while you walk on a treadmill or ride a bike, or when a chemical is used to stimulate your heart. It is used to monitor changes in your heart’s function when it’s under stress that may indicate coronary artery disease.
Echocardiogram
An ultrasound probe is moved over the surface of your chest to capture moving images of your heart. This allows us to determine your heart’s chamber dimensions, shape, valve structures, and overall function.
Stress Echocardiogram
A stress echocardiogram is performed while you walk on a treadmill or ride a bike, or when a chemical is used to stimulate the heart. It is used to monitor changes in your heart’s function while it’s under stress that may indicate coronary artery disease.
3-D Transesophogeal Echocardiogram
An ultrasound probe passed through your esophagus is used to capture sound waves that create highly detailed, close-up 3-D images of your heart’s chamber dimensions, shape, valve structures, and overall function.
Cardiac Catheterization
Flexible tubes called catheters are guided through a blood vessel to your heart to look for blockages and overall heart function. Contrast dye is injected and X-rays are taken to capture images of your heart, coronary arteries, and other blood vessels.
CT Coronary Angiography
A contrast agent is injected into your arm and a CT scan produces highly detailed 3-D images of your coronary arteries to help identify anatomy and blockages.
Cardiac MRI
Radio waves, magnets, and a computer create still and moving images of your heart, heart muscle, blood vessels, and surrounding structures.
Why Choose Duke
Clinical Trials Access
As a Duke patient, you may be eligible to participate in clinical trials or therapies related to your particular needs and conditions that are not available at other health care facilities.
Personalized Risk-Factor Management Program
We offer one-on-one exercise and nutrition counseling, high blood pressure management, and more through our cardiac prevention and rehabilitation program.
Hybrid Surgery
When appropriate, interventional cardiologists and surgeons work together in our hybrid operating room to perform combined procedures. This may shorten procedure and recovery time.
When it comes to your heart care, you want the very best. Duke University Hospital's nationally ranked cardiology and heart surgery program is ranked the best in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report for 2019–2020.