A cardiologist is a physician who is certified to treat problems of the cardiovascular system—the heart, arteries, and veins. Cardiology is classified as an internal medicine subspecialty. Knowledge of internal medicine and other specialties is required to obtain certification. There are many requirements on the quest to becoming a cardiologist; first, obviously is graduation from an approved medical school. Next is the completion of an ACGME-accredited internal medicine residency program, which is a minimum of 3 years in length. There must be a minimum of 2 years of meaningful patient contact and responsibility. Of the 2 years, 20 months must occur in in-patient services, ambulatory settings, and in …show more content…
Once this examination has been passed, the physician receives board certification in internal medicine. This is a prerequisite to becoming certified in cardiology. Knowledge and competence in performing and interpreting tests and procedures of the heart is necessary as well. Once training is satisfactorily completed, the physician is eligible to take the American Board of Internal Medicine cardiology examination. Subspecialties have developed along with new tests and therapeutic interventions. Sub specialization in these areas usually requires 1 or 2 additional years of highly specialized formal training such as Interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, nuclear physiology, and …show more content…
Cardiac transplantation is a procedure of last resort. This means that there are no other medical or surgical options that will improve your current heart condition. Heart transplantation involves the placement of a healthy heart from a cadaveric donor into the recipient with end-stage heart disease. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), or bypass surgery, is a surgical operation in which the surgeon uses a section of vein, usually from the patient's leg, or an artery from inside the patient's chest, to create a new route for oxygen-rich blood to reach the heart muscle. The most commonly used vessels are the internal mammary arteries, which are inside the chest wall, or the greater saphenous veins, which are in the leg. These vessels are "spares." Blood flow is usually not affected by removing them. Less often, the radial artery in the arm may be used for a graft. Grafts usually last for 10 to 12