Dr. Jose Castellanos is a member of the elite team of cardiologists of Hospital Herrera Llerandi, located at the heart of the prestigious hospital district in Guatemala City. Dr. Castellanos has been practicing in this location since 2005 and generally performs between 250-300 cardiac procedures per year, including catheterization, alcohol septal ablation, angioplasty, and valvuloplasty.

Sometimes patients feel pain in the chest, like pressure, burning, heaviness, or squeezing. Symptoms of coronary artery disease can also include dizziness, nausea, sweating, or general weakness. In any of these circumstances, it is wise to have a consultation and complete a check-up with Dr. Castellanos right away.

A conventional coronary angiogram can show the doctor if your coronary arteries are blocked or narrowed, where, and by how much. He can see if you need treatment such as angioplasty (a stent), coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), or medical therapy. A coronary angiogram is the most common type of cardiac catheterization procedure. If necessary, Dr. Castellanos can open clogged heart arteries (angioplasty) during your coronary angiogram.

Computerized tomography (CT) coronary angiogram is a much more powerful exam that produces images of your heart and blood vessels. CT angiograms are noninvasive and don’t require any recovery time. Staying on the cutting edge of advanced cardiac procedures, Dr. Castellanos says, “The best cardiac centers in Guatemala City have begun to offer absorbable stents, which integrate better than the old-fashioned metal stents and are less likely to become blocked and cause thrombosis.”

In a peripheral angioplasty procedure,  a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin. Then, using high-resolution fluoroscopic video and film equipment, the catheter is guided through the peripheral artery to place a balloon that will be inflated so that it opens the blocked artery. After the blocked area of the peripheral artery is widened, the balloon is deflated and removed. Finally, the blood can flow easily and naturally through the arteries to supply life-giving oxygen to the heart.